Department for Transport

Railways: North of England

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission a strategic environmental assessment of the proposal for a High Speed 3 line between Leeds and Manchester.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is still developing and considering proposals for High Speed 3 (HS3). As such it is too early to say whether or not we would complete a strategic environmental assessment. As we move ahead with HS3, we will ensure that an appropriate approach is taken to assessing environmental impacts and considering alternatives, and that any proposed scheme is developed in line with relevant domestic and European legislation.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Claire Perry: At the time of the 2014 Survey the Department for Transport comprised a central department and five executive agencies as follows: · Highways Agency· Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency· Maritime & Coastguard Agency· Vehicle Certification Agency· Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency The survey collated answers from 11,414 respondents. Out of these, 1,523 declared a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability. a) In the 2014 People Survey, 23% (350) of Department for Transport respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. b) 10% of Department for Transport respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.

Macquarie Bank

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which of his Department's projects and enterprises Macquarie Bank has financed or invested in since May 2010; and how much it has invested in each such projected enterprise.

Claire Perry: An online record of Department projects and enterprises is maintained by HMT on a regular basis. This includes details of investors and project size and can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-finance-initiative-projects-2014-summary-data Macquarie invested in the Mersey Gateway Bridge project in March 2014. This project was procured by Halton Borough Council with support from the Department for Transport. Macquarie European Rail, a subsidiary of Macquarie Bank, are an active participant in the privatised rolling stock leasing sector.

Driving: Costs

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government has taken to reduce motorists' driving costs.

Claire Perry: As Robert Goodwill informed the House in a written answer on 10 February 2015 [223954], between 2010 and 2014 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, decreased by 5%. The Government has contributed to this in a number of ways. The Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed in the 2014 Budget that Fuel Duty would be frozen to the end of this Parliament. The maximum MoT test fee has also been frozen for the duration of this Parliament. Last October, I announced that we would be reducing driving licence fees by up to 32% and that theory test fees would drop by 25%. In addition, various measures have been taken to reduce and simplify motorists’ paperwork, including abolishing the paper tax disc which should save businesses around £8m per year and motorists £5m per year; removing the insurance check at vehicle relicensing which should save motorists around £1m per year; and removing the requirement to make annual Statutory Off Road Notifications, with savings for private motorists estimated to be nearly £6m per year. By investing in the road network, including allocating around £1billion more for local roads maintenance, including on potholes, in this Parliament compared to the previous one and a further £6 billion of funding announced in December 2014, the Government has helped to make journeys smoother, safer and more reliable, saving motorists time and wear and tear on their vehicles.

Road Traffic Control: Berkshire

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to reduce traffic congestion in Berkshire.

Mr Robert Goodwill: On 29 January the Government announced a £10.2m expansion of the Growth Deal with the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). We understand the LEP intends to use around £7.5m of that additional funding for 4 new local transport schemes, taking the total funding for local transport improvements as part of the Growth Deal to over £100m, supporting delivery of 20 transport projects across Berkshire. This funding is in addition to £36.9m integrated transport block funding for the six Berkshire local authorities covering the period 2015/16 to 2020/21, and £2.1m local pinch point funding for the Stafferton Way Link Road in Maidenhead. The Government launched the Roads Investment Strategy on 1 December 2014. The M4 Junctions 3-12 smart motorway project to upgrade the M4 from east of Heathrow to west of Reading continues to be progressed. The Highways Agency intends to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the scheme at the end of March. Subject to consent and the final business case, construction could start in late 2016. The Highways Agency is due to complete the £2.5 million pinch point scheme to relieve traffic congestion at the M4/A329 (M) junction in June, and will deliver a scheme to improve the operation of the A404 Bisham roundabout in 2015/16. The Government is also investing heavily in improvement of the rail network in Berkshire, including the Crossrail, Great Western electrification and Waterloo-Windsor lines train lengthening projects, which may have the impact of relieving traffic congestion in the county by offering improved alternatives to travel by car.

Cycleways

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2015 to Question 226547, what assessment he has made of the merits of deploying civil enforcement officers rather than using cameras to enforce mandatory cycle lanes; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Enforcement of moving traffic offences associated with mandatory cycle lanes is currently a matter for the police as they have the powers to stop vehicles. Civil enforcement officers are able to enforce parking contraventions in mandatory cycle lanes, but effective enforcement of moving traffic contraventions, if Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 were commenced, would require the installation by local authorities of camera systems.

Home Office

Rape

Mr David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many allegations of rape were reported to the police by (a) women and (b) men in each area of (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 2005; how many such allegations resulted in prosecutions; and how many such prosecutions were successful.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office does not hold data on allegations of rape reported to the police. The Home Office holds data on the number of rapes recorded by the police. The information is published on a financial year basis and is given in Table A for the requested areas.The Ministry of Justice holds information on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts of rape. These figures are on a calendar year basis and data are not directly comparable with the figures recorded by the police. This is because cases tried at court may have occurred in a different time period to those recorded by the police and could relate to crimes recorded in previous years. Furthermore, Ministry of Justice figures are based on the number of defendants proceeded against, while police data are based upon the number of victims.Information on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts of rape can be found in Table B.   



Table A -Table B published rape data
(Excel SpreadSheet, 42 KB)

Radicalism

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of UK foreign policy on radicalisation.

James Brokenshire: Terrorism and the use of terrorist tactics are never justified, and radicalisation is a complex process that cannot be reduced to blame for foreign policy. This is demonstrated by the range of countries recently affected by terrorist activities, including Belgium, France, Denmark, Australia and Canada, all of whom follow different foreign policies.

Radicalism

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Muslim groups her Department has met with to discuss the Prevent strategy in the last two years.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the confidence of the British Muslim community in the Prevent strategy.

James Brokenshire: We work with a range of key partners across the country, including organisations representing Muslims, to tackle a variety of issues of radicalisation and extremism. We run Prevent-related programmes in local government, health, education, prisons, youth justice, immigration and charities. Since early 2012, Prevent local projects have reached over 55,000 people. Many of these projects include working with Muslims and organisations that represent Muslims. We work with local partners and propose suitable local Prevent projects, which include, for example, projects in madrassahs.No recent formal assessment has been made of community feedback on the Prevent strategy but we seek the views of British Muslims on specific issues relating to Prevent

Radicalism

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations expressing concerns about the effectiveness of the Prevent strategy she has received in the last two years.

James Brokenshire: Since this Government fundamentally revised the Prevent strategy in June 2011, Prevent activity has become more efficient and focused. Prevent is an effective programme in reducing the risk of vulnerable individuals being drawn into terrorism and extremism. We have removed over 75,000 pieces of illegal terrorist material from the internet, our local projects have reached over 55,000 people, and we have trained over trained over 130,000 public sector workers. We report on Prevent delivery annually through the CONTEST Annual report which was last published April 2014.The Home Office receives and responds to a large volume of correspondence in relation to the effectiveness of Prevent, from a wide range of organisations, members of the public, parliamentarians and journalists.

Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to ratify the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.

Lynne Featherstone: Holding answer received on 12 March 2015



The Coalition Government signed the Istanbul Convention on 8 June 2012 signalling its strong commitment on tackling violence against women and girls. The UK already has some of the most robust protections in the world against violence towards women and we already comply with the vast majority of the articles to the convention. Primary legislation will be needed to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before it can be ratified.Ministers are currently considering the extent to which we need to amend the criminal law of England and Wales for compliance with Article 44 prior to ratification of the Convention. Any changes necessary to the criminal law in Scotland and Northern Ireland prior to ratification are matters for the devolved administrations.

Stalking

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of stalking have been reported to the police since the implementation of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012; and how many of those incidents led to an (a) arrest, (b) prosecution and (c) conviction.

Lynne Featherstone: Holding answer received on 16 March 2015



The Home Office does not hold data on the number of incidents of stalking reported to the police or on the number of people arrested for stalking. The Home Office holds data on the number of offences of stalking recorded by the police since April 2014 when stalking became a separately recorded classification (previously, stalking offences were included within harassment). The police recorded 1,682 stalking offences in the six month period April to September 2014. They are published in the quarterly Office for National Statistics publication of ‘Crime in England and Wales’. The most recent data are available in Table A4 in this link:http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/year-ending-september-2014/index.htmlThe Ministry of Justice holds information on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and those found guilty at all courts for stalking.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in her Department responded that they were treated fairly at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Karen Bradley: The overall response rate for the Home Office 2014 People Survey was 51% (15,431 staff). Of those who responded, 2,090 staff (14%) declared a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability. 63% of respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work. 76% of respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work.23% of respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. 11% of respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.We are concerned by these results and are taking action. In particular, we are building on our existing programme of work with disabled staff and their managers to ensure the issues are understood so that staff are treated fairly. The Home Office signed the Time to Change pledge and we are committed to raising awareness of mental health issues. We are reviewing our guidance on reasonable adjustments for disabled staff, including guidance on setting work objectives and managing performance.

Social Security Benefits: Databases

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether police forces have access to Government data on benefit payments in order to assist in locating wanted persons.

Mike Penning: Police forces do not routinely have access to government data on benefit payments. If benefit data is required in order to assist with locating wanted persons, it can be requested from the appropriate government department. Each request is carefully considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation, including the Data Protection Act 1998.There is a memorandum of understanding between the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for disclosures that determine how the DWP provides data. All requests are managed through a central disclosure unit on a case-by case-basis. ACPO do not have direct access to the data.

Terrorism

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pieces of unlawful terrorist material have been taken off the internet since 2010; how many hate preachers have been excluded from the UK since 2010; how many organisations have been proscribed in the UK since 2010; how many (a) British citizenships have been revoked and (b) passports have been removed for terrorism-related reasons since 2010; and how many arrests the police have made for terrorism-related offences since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit has secured the removal of more than 75,000 pieces of terrorist-related content since 2010.Since January 2010, 91 hate preachers have been excluded from the UK. Since May 2010, this Government have excluded 88 hate preachers from the UK. The Home Secretary has the power to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good or if their exclusion is justified on public policy or public security grounds. Coming to the UK is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who seek to subvert our shared values.19 organisations have been proscribed since May 2010.Since 2010 there have been 28 deprivation decisions taken on the basis that such action would be ‘conducive to the public good.On 25 April 2013, the Government redefined the public interest criteria to refuse or withdraw a passport in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament. Since the Secretary of State’s statement in April 2013, the Royal Prerogative was used 6 times in 2013 and 24 times in 2014. The Royal Prerogative was not exercised on these grounds in the period 2010-2012.Since (April) 2010, over 800 people have been arrested for terrorism-related offences. Of these more than 220 have been charged and over 150 successfully prosecuted.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to review the use of detention for immigration purposes.

James Brokenshire: Detention plays a key role in maintaining an effective immigration control and protecting our borders. We keep periods of detention to a minimum, consistent with the need to detain in order to remove from the UK those with no right to be here and who do not leave voluntarily. There are no plans to review the use of detention overall but on 9 February the Home Secretary announced that Stephen Shaw, the former Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, is to lead an independent review of the policies and procedures relating to the welfare of immigration detainees.

Police: Reorganisation

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an estimate of potential savings from mergers of police forces.

Mike Penning: The Government has not made any estimate as to the potential savings from merging police forces. It is not necessary for forces to merge in order to become more efficient. Chief constables and police and crime commissioners are demonstrating that they can collaborate in order to make efficiency savings without sacrificing the local accountability and identity of their forces. A programme of force mergers would also impose significant transition and reorganisation costs on the police.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department responded that they were treated fairly at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Civil Service People Survey asks the question “Do you have any long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability?” The survey does not include a question that specifically identifies disability status.In the 2014 People Survey, 73% of Foreign and Commonwealth Office respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they agreed or strongly agreed that they were treated fairly at work.  78% of Foreign and Commonwealth Office respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they agreed or strongly agreed that they were treated fairly at work.The FCO acts on staff feedback from the People Survey as a priority, ensuring concerns are addressed by departments. We take any complaints of bullying, harassment and discrimination very seriously and have guidance and points of contact in place to listen to and respond to staff concerns.Staff with disabilities are supported by the FCO’s dedicated Disability Support Team, who provide advice, training and support to disabled colleagues and their line managers, and with our staff network work to raise disability awareness and confidence across the FCO.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Mr David Lidington: The Cabinet Office is responsible for cross-Government communication as set out in the Annual Government Communication Plan. As part of our long-term economic plan we have substantially reformed Government communications since the 2010 General Election, abolishing the Central Office of Information and ensuring that Government communications activity is better coordinated and more effective. Thanks to these reforms we have halved the cost to taxpayers of government communications since the 2010 General Election. The National Audit Office (NAO) has confirmed that Government made savings of £378 million in each of the last two financial years on proactive paid-for communications, compared to a 2009-10 baseline. This is based on proactive (paid-for) communications spend of £589m in 09/10, £216m in 12/13 and £210m in 13/14. The Cabinet Office regularly publishes data on: www.data.gov.uk showing how public money has been spent and how government is performing against its objectives and goals. As the Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not have a dedicated central advertising budget it would not be possible to collate expenditure without incurring disproportionate cost.

NATO

Sir Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2015 to Questions 226471 and 226472, if he will publish by way of further written Answer the further information he has requested from NATO before the dissolution of the present Parliament.

Mr David Lidington: NATO has recently adopted a more open policy to the publication of financial information. The UK has welcomed this move towards improved accountability and governance. Twenty four sets of accounts for common funded expenditure by NATO and its agencies for 2013 have been completed. The International Board of Auditors for NATO (IBAN) has finalised its audit for all but one. Three of the financial audit reports completed by IBAN were published in September 2014. A further three reports should be published in the coming weeks. NATO expects IBAN to audit the remaining accounts by the end of April 2015. The North Atlantic Council will make decisions on the public release of the remaining audit reports before the end of July 2015. NATO’s policy to release unclassified or declassified financial information was only agreed in January 2015 but it is not retrospective which is why none of the 2013 statements have been published so far. The 2014 financial statements are currently being finalised but have yet to be audited. Based on the current timetable we would expect them to be released between autumn 2015 and summer 2016.

Nigeria

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the conduct of the Nigerian general election in March 2015.

James Duddridge: The Foreign Secretary said on 8 February, the Nigerian people have the right to credible, peaceful and transparent elections and it is important the elections go ahead without any further delay on 28 March. We urge all parties to honour their commitments to prevent violence before, during and after the elections.We continue to support Nigeria’s Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver the elections. Over 80% of Permanent Voter Cards have now been collected and field tests of the card readers were broadly successful. This is testament to the positive advances that INEC have made, under the leadership of Professor Jega, to enable the successful delivery of the elections.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Civil Service People Survey asks the question “Do you have any long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability?” The survey does not include a question that specifically identifies disability status. In the 2014 People Survey, 20% of Foreign and Commonwealth Office respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. 12% of Foreign and Commonwealth Office respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. The FCO acts on staff feedback from the People Survey as a priority, ensuring concerns are addressed by departments. We take any complaints of bullying, harassment and discrimination very seriously and have guidance and points of contact in place to listen to and respond to staff concerns. Staff with disabilities are supported by the FCO’s dedicated Disability Support Team, who provide advice, training and support to disabled colleagues and their line managers, and with our staff network work to raise disability awareness and confidence across the FCO.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sir Alan Haselhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Written Statement of 8 January 2015, HCWS176, when the results of the review of the Government's overseas scholarships schemes will be available; and if he will make it his policy that no changes to the governance of those schemes will be made without prior consultation of Parliament.

Mr David Lidington: As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 8 January (HCWS176) the findings of the report are expected to be laid in the libraries of both Houses later this month, and published on line shortly after that.

Overseas Students: Scholarships

Sir Alan Haselhurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Written Statement of 8 January 2015, HCWS176, what provision has been made for public consultation as part of the review of the Government's overseas scholarships schemes.

Mr David Lidington: This overarching Review builds on the work of the two previous Triennial reviews, into Commonwealth and Marshall scholarships, including their public consultations. It focuses on whether there are synergies for better efficiencies between the three schemes.

Kidnapping: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that parents of abducted children can access legal aid.

James Duddridge: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides parents with information about the local legal systems of other countries including what legal aid schemes are available. We also provide a list of local interpreters and lawyers, indicating those who specialist in family law where appropriate. Our support for parents of abducted children is set out in our publication ‘Support for British nationals abroad: a Guide’. Legal aid in the UK is a Ministry of Justice lead.

Kidnapping: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that child abduction cases are dealt with  in a manner which takes account of the sensitivity of such cases.

James Duddridge: Consular staff who provide assistance to families have a range of training and support available to them to ensure that they manage such cases sensitively. This includes specific guidance for staff on child abduction with an accompanying training workshop and mandatory safe-guarding training. The FCO also has a global network of designated safe-guarding officers. Additional support for Consular staff is provided by a children’s policy advisor and by a qualified social work advisor specialising in children’s issues.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also works with and part funds the support organisation Reunite, which runs a mediation service and provides advice and support to parents.

Bangladesh

Mr David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to government and opposition in Bangladesh to help address the constitutional crisis in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire: We are deeply concerned by the ongoing violence and political unrest in Bangladesh. We continue to call on all Bangladesh’s political parties to take the confidence-building measures necessary to stop the violence and ensure an inclusive and participatory political process.I raised my concerns about the violence and shrinking of democratic space in Bangladesh with Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the Bangladesh Parliament Speaker, during her visit to the UK on 9 March. I also raised these concerns, not least the reported office confinement of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Leader Khaleda Zia, when I met the Bangladesh Law Minister on 20 January 2015. I made a public statement reiterating these messages on 5 March. We are also encouraging the UN and others in the international community to play an active role.

Northern Ireland Office

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in her Department responded that they were treated fairly at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The 2014 People Survey data for Northern Ireland Office respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability is not available, due to restrictions on reporting in place to maintain anonymity and confidentiality.In total, 80% of Northern Ireland Office respondents declared that they felt they were treated fairly at work.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much her Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: During this period my Department has incurred expenditure on public notices and recruitment for public office. While the Department does not hold details of the amounts spent split by the categories requested, the expenditure solely relates to advertisements in the local and national press; the totals are set out below:  2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15(to 31-12-14)Expenditure£50,772£37,928£10,626£18,015£8,881

Attorney General

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Attorney General, how much the Law Officers' Departments spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 March 2015 to UIN:227295

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Higher Education: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many young people resident in Pendle entered higher education in each of the last 20 years.

Greg Clark: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) publishes young participation rates by parliamentary constituency. These show the proportion of young people in each parliamentary constituency who entered higher education by the age of 19, for each cohort of 18 year olds between 1998 and 2011. These can be viewed at the following link: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/yp/trendsyp/pment/ The statistics will be updated to include the 2012 cohort of 18 year olds in the summer.

Higher Education: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many young people living in Preston entered higher education in each of the last 20 years.

Greg Clark: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) publishes young participation rates by parliamentary constituency. These show the proportion of young people in each parliamentary constituency who entered higher education by the age of 19, for each cohort of 18 year olds between 1998 and 2011. These can be viewed at the following link:http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/yp/trendsyp/pment/The statistics will be updated to include the 2012 cohort of 18 year olds in the summer.

Procurement

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what value of Small Business Research Initiative contracts has been awarded in 2014-15 (a) in total, (b) by the Ministry of Defence, (c) by the Department of Health, (d) by NHS England, (e) by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, (f) by the Department for Transport, (g) by the Home Office, (h) by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs, (i) directly by Innovate UK, (j) by research councils, (k) by other parts of his Department and (l) by other government departments and agencies to date.

Greg Clark: This information will be available following the close of the Financial Year 2014/15.

Procurement

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much Innovate UK funding has been used in 2014-15 to date to co-fund Small Business Research Initiative competitions by other departments or agencies.

Greg Clark: Innovate UK has provided £4.4m in co-funding for Small Business Research Initiative competitions run by other departments or agencies in 2014-15 to date.

Procurement

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what value of Small Business Research Initiative Phase 1 contracts have been awarded in 2014-15 (a) in total, (b) by the Ministry of Defence, (c) by the Department of Health, (d) by NHS England, (e) by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, (f) by the Department for Transport, (g) by the Home Office, (h) by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs, (i) directly by Innovate UK, (j) by research councils, (k) by other parts of his Department and (l) by other government departments and agencies to date.

Greg Clark: This information will be available following the close of the Financial Year 2014/15.

Higher Education: South Yorkshire

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many young people living in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley local authority area and (c) South Yorkshire entered higher education in each of the last 10 years.

Greg Clark: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) publishes young participation rates by parliamentary constituency. These show the proportion of young people in each parliamentary constituency who entered higher education by the age of 19, for each cohort of 18 year olds between 1998 and 2011. These can be viewed at the following link: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/analysis/yp/trendsyp/pment/  The statistics will be updated to include the 2012 cohort of 18 year olds in the summer.

Procurement

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what value of Small Business Research Initiative Phase 2 contracts have been awarded in 2014-15 (a) in total, (b) by the Ministry of Defence, (c) by the Department of Health, (d) by NHS England, (e) by the Department for Energy and Climate Change, (f) by the Department for Transport, (g) by the Home Office, (h) by the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs, (i) directly by Innovate UK, (j) by research councils, (k) by other parts of his Department and (l) by other government departments and agencies to date.

Greg Clark: This information will be available following the close of the Financial Year 2014/15.

Billing

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of large companies' use of lengthy payment terms for suppliers on suppliers' ability to trade.

Matthew Hancock: The Government is absolutely clear that large companies should lead by example and aim to pay their suppliers in 30 days. It is not acceptable for large companies in the UK to be using unduly long payment terms which squeeze suppliers.   We are acutely aware of the negative impact late payment and unduly long payment terms can have on small companies’ cash flow, which in turn can impact on their ability to trade.   The Government is taking forward a comprehensive package of measure to bring an end to these practices once and for all, including: introducing a new reporting requirement on all large businesses; and strengthening the Prompt Payment Code.   Through the Small Business, Employment and Enterprise Bill we will require the UK’s largest companies to report on their payment practices – through a tough, new reporting requirement which will shine a light on those companies using lengthy payment terms.   We have also sought views on proposals for business representative bodies to have wider powers to challenge payment terms and practices which are grossly unfair – which will build on existing protections for small businesses.   I also recently announced changes to the Prompt Payment Code to strengthen its impact. The Code will now promote 30 days payment terms as the norm and a maximum payment terms on 60 days.

Billing

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of UK companies requiring (i) 30 day, (ii) 60 day, (iii) 90 day, (iv) 120 day and (v) greater than 120 day payment terms from their suppliers.

Matthew Hancock: Until now there has been very little transparency on payment terms in the UK. That is why this government is taking action in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill to require the UK’s largest companies to report on their payment practices – through a tough, new reporting requirement which includes metrics setting out payment performance within 30 and 60 days and beyond.   I also recently announced changes to the Prompt Payment Code to strengthen its impact. The Code will now promote 30 days payment terms as standard practice, and a maximum payment terms on 60 days.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Jo Swinson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17th March 2015 by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Francis Maude) to Question UIN 227295.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Jo Swinson: In the 2014 People Survey, 15% of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.5% of BIS respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.Overall, the BIS scores for bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months are better than the Civil Service benchmark. 7% of all BIS respondents reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. This is 3 points lower than the Civil Service benchmark (10%).Actions to improve results include:Delivering the Civil Service Talent Action Plan and the BIS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Strategy to continue to build an increasingly inclusive Department where everyone is treated fairly. This includes actions relating to disability, which is identified as a priority demographic within the Department. Examples of deliverables under the Plan and Strategy include: The appointment of disability, race and gender champions at Director level to work with our Board level ED&I Champion and the Diversity Networks to support and highlight barriers so they can be addressed at an early stage.Professor Binna Kandola ran 3 unconscious bias sessions for managers last autumn to raise greater diversity awareness and address issues across BIS.Mandated unconscious bias e-learning for all line managers to ensure that we attain a baseline of awareness across all BIS managers.Piloting non-executive board members’ providing coaching and mentoring to under-represented SCS staff.Launched a Reverse Mentoring programme where 2 Directors General and 6 Directors receive mentoring from a junior BME and/or disabled member of staff. The programme aims to lead to more inclusive decision making and a better understanding of perceptions and behaviour. Providing further guidance and information to staff and managers on our approach to performance management to mitigate against a more robust system potentially being misinterpreted as unfair treatment, bullying or harassment. Engaging staff in groups through e.g. surveys and conversations, to identify particular areas of concern, causes, and potential actions to take forward locally. Points to note: The Civil Service People Survey asks the question “Do you have any long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability?” The survey does not include a question that specifically identifies disability status.

Apprentices: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeships commenced in each sector in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire in the last 12 months.

Nick Boles: Information on the number of government-funded apprenticeship starts in the latest full year, by Sector Subject Area, Parliamentary Constituency and Local Education Authority is published in a Supplementary Table to a Statistical First Release (SFR). https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/400024/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-and-sector-subject-area.xls

ICT: EU Action

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the Government's policy is on the digital single economy in the EU; and what further progress has been made on setting out the UK's position to the European Commission.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The UK Government set out its policy in a paper published in January and is available at http://engage.number10.gov.uk/digital-single-market/. We want the EU to create an open, flexible digital single market with a regulatory framework that reflects the dynamic nature of the digital economy. Through the internet, consumers should be able to enjoy greater choice, lower prices, more mobility and better public services. We should also make it easier for businesses to operate online so that they can innovate, drive growth and create jobs. The Government has had several discussions with the European Commission on this point, including with Vice President Ansip and Commissioners Oettinger and Jourova.

Further Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many further education colleges there were in each of the past five years; and what estimate he has made of how many further education colleges there will be in each of the next five years.

Nick Boles: The number of further education colleges (institutions that are incorporated or designated and in receipt of Skills Funding Agency Funding) for the past 5 years are set out below:  2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Total Colleges259259247246243243   The reductions since 2010 are due to institutional mergers. Further mergers planned by colleges for 2015 will reduce the number of colleges to 241. We make no estimates of numbers of colleges for future years.

Further Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students were enrolled in further education colleges in each of the past five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of students enrolled in further education colleges in each of the next five years.

Nick Boles: Information on participation at Further Education providers over the last five academic years is published in provider reports (first link below) in the FE Data Library (second link below).The Department do not produce forecasts for Further Education & Skills learner numbers.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378355/feandskills-learners-by-provider-local-authority-learner-characteristics-1314.xlshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-local-authority-tables

Further Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many teachers and lecturers worked in the further education sector in each of the past five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of teachers and lecturers  working in that sector in each of the next five years.

Nick Boles: Government does not collect information about the number of teachers and lecturers in further education and we have not made any estimates about future numbers. Colleges and other further education providers are independent institutions, responsible for their own staffing matters. The Education and Training Foundation is the independent sector led organisation responsible for standards in further education. Established in 2013, the Foundation is working with the sector to develop a comprehensive annual staff survey. Currently this is on a voluntary basis, but based on information from the 2012/13 academic year, it is estimated that were approximately 110,000 teachers in post in July 2013.Government has funded a range of incentives and programmes to help recruit more graduates to teach in further education and raise the skills of the existing workforce, with a priority on maths, English and supporting learners with special education needs and disabilities. Full details of these initiatives are available from the Education and Training Foundation at http://www.et-foundation.co.uk/supporting/support-teacher-recruitment/

Further Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much and what proportion of his Department's (a) expenditure and (b) budget was allocated to the further education sector in each of the past five years; and what estimate he has made of that amount and proportion that will be allocated to that sector in each of the next five years.

Nick Boles: The table below details the expenditure and plans allocated to the further education sector since 2010-11.£000's2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16 out-turnout-turnout-turnout-turnplansplansResource DEL FE4,034,4683,541,0733,495,2963,415,6073,151,6472,833,472Resource Capital FE660,551393,400285,876396,832414,857410,000FE Loans00072,961398,000498,000Total FE4,695,0193,934,4733,781,1723,885,4003,964,5043,741,472BIS Resource23,374,10121,145,80620,435,85622,987,12120,272,52421,916,932FE %20%19%19%17%20%17%Source - BIS Accounts out-turn 2010-11 to 2013-14. Skills Funding statement published February 2014 for 2014-15 plans and Skills Funding Letter published February 2015 for 2015-16 plansWe do not have any budgets beyond 2015-16 as these will be agreed in the next Spending Review.

Further Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from (a) schools, (b) colleges, (c) trade associations, (d) charities, (e) education experts, (f) teachers, (g) lecturers, (h) students and (i) parents on the future funding of further education colleges.

Nick Boles: We have recently received a number of letters from hon. Members, colleges and individuals about the adult skills budget allocation for 2015-16.

Further Education

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the mean class size was in further education colleges in each of the last five years; and what forecast his Department has made of the likely mean class size in such colleges in each of the next five years.

Nick Boles: Government does not collect information about class sizes in further education and does not make estimates about class sizes in future years. As independent organisations, colleges and other further education providers are responsible for deciding how they deliver their curriculum, taking account of local learner, employer and community needs. This will include how courses are organised and the location and methods of delivery. Most institutions publish details of their educational programmes in their prospectus, which will be available locally.

Business: Advisory Services

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the proportion of advice provided to businesses under the Growth Vouchers scheme to date that has been provided directly by his Department and its agencies.

Matthew Hancock: All of the advice delivered under the Growth Voucher programme is provided by suppliers in the private sector.

Department for International Development

Procurement

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2015 to Question 222001, what proportion, and what value, of centrally awarded contracts were awarded to firms registered in the UK in each of the last four financial years.

Justine Greening: We do not hold this information in the form requested.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in her Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Mr Desmond Swayne: In the 2014 People Survey, less than 10 DFID respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.   10% of DFID respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Mr Desmond Swayne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 March 2015 to UIN:227295

Offences against Children

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy that the declaration of the UNICEF Heads of Government meeting in September 2015 should prioritise the ending of abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK Government fully supports efforts to end all forms of violence against children through its humanitarian and development programmes. Peaceful societies, good governance and the rule of law are all important development priorities for the UK and are central to protecting children globally. DFID is supporting programming in conflict-affected countries to assist and protect children, working with mandated child protection agencies including UNICEF. In Syria and the wider region more than £800 million in humanitarian aid is helping those affected, for example through the No Lost Generation Initiative which is providing education and psychosocial support to children to protect them from violence, abuse and exploitation. In September Heads of Government will meet at the UN General Assembly to agree a Post-2015 development framework. The UK Government strongly supports goal 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies, which has a specific target on ending all forms of violence against children.

Developing Countries: Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to help developing countries to tackle tax avoidance and evasion.

Justine Greening: The UK put tax and development at the heart of our G8 presidency in 2013. We are working with our international partners to provide expert assistance to developing countries to tackle tax evasion and avoidance. At the Autumn Statement the Government announced an additional £5 million for HMRC for dedicated tax expertise to help developing countries tackle tax avoidance and evasion.

Developing Countries: Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to help developing countries to tackle tax avoidance and evasion.

Justine Greening: The UK put tax and development at the heart of our G8 presidency in 2013. We are working with our international partners to provide expert assistance to developing countries to tackle tax evasion and avoidance. At the Autumn Statement the Government announced an additional £5 million for HMRC for dedicated tax expertise to help developing countries tackle tax avoidance and evasion.

Developing Countries: Conditions of Employment

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to improve working conditions in developing countries.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We are improving working conditions through our country programmes and through global standards. For example, in Bangladesh, we are providing over £7 million to improve working conditions and safety in 1,800 factories, and we support labour practices globally through the ethical trading initiative.

Department for Education

Children: Day Care

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assistance her Department has made available to Lancashire County Council for expanding the number of free childcare places.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education has provided funding to Lancashire as set out in the table below. This information can also be found at: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/l/2yo%20capital%20and%20revenue%20funding%20allocations%20spreadsheet.pdf and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/la-allocations-for-early-learning-for-2-year-olds-2014-to-2015. In addition, the Department has supported all local authorities through: national marketing campaigns; funding IT and implementation support; introducing an electronic checking service; and, providing live data to local authorities about which children in their area are eligible.LancashireNationalRevenue allocation for 2 year olds:StatutoryTrajectoryTotalTotal2014-15£14,271,271£1,803,018£16,074,288£755,000,0002013-14£7,259,833£2,850,014£10,109,847£525,000,000Revenue total  £26,184,135£1,280,000,000 Capital (2012-13)  £1,917,510£100,000,000 Total investment  £28,101,645£1,380,000,000

Children in Care

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked after children in local authority accommodation outside of their home local authority area there are for each type of placement and each local authority; and what the average distance from home is of such children for each type of placement and each local authority.

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked after children were accommodated outside their home local authority area for each type of placement and for each local authority in each year since 2010.

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked after children were absent from their placement for more than 24 hours for each type of placement in each year from 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Edward Timpson: The Department for Education publishes information on the distance and locality of placement, by placement type, for all looked after children. However, this information is not published according to local authority. This information is available in table A6 of the Statistical First Release ‘Children looked after in England, including adoption’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption--2. The Department also publishes the distance and locality of placement for each local authority in table LAA6 of this publication, but this is not broken down by placement type.   The number of children who were missing from their agreed placement for a period of more than 24 hours, is shown in the table below for 2008-2014.   Looked after children who were missing from their agreed placement 1,2,3,4,5 Year ending 31 March  Coverage: England   Number of children looked after during the yearNumber of looked after children who had a missing incident during the yearPercentage of children with a missing incident during the year200882,5201,1001200984,3401,0401201088,2509401201191,1801,0501201293,2001,6402201395,2802,2302201497,9502,5303 Source: SSDA903   1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. 3. Where a child went missing from his/her placement on more than one occasion during the year, the child has only been counted once during the year. However, a child may be double-counted across subsequent years if they had an ongoing missing episode at 31 March in any given year. 4. Data on children missing from their agreed placement are thought to be under reported for some local authorities. The Department is currently engaged in a process to improve the reporting for this group of vulnerable children. 5. The number of looked after children who have a period where they are classed as being missing from their agreed placement for a period of more than 24 hours which started during the year ending 31 March.   Data on children missing from their agreed placement is perceived to be under-reported for some local authorities and should be treated with caution. Extensive work on improving the quality of this data has been undertaken during the past two years’ data collections. Increases are likely to reflect improvements in recording rather than true increases. From 2015, the method used to collect information will change in order to further improve the quality. DfE has issued strong guidance to local authorities to improve the way in which they manage and respond to children who go missing. This is to ensure that local authorities have a clearer picture and can respond more effectively.   Information on children who went missing from their agreed placement broken down by placement type, is not rountinely published by the Department for Education. However, this information is available for 2012-2013 and is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-homes-data-pack. Please refer to slide 17.

Foster Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222182, whether her Department is aware of any recorded instances of a child born outside the UK and looked-after under private fostering arrangements being referred to a local authority for care.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is a requirement for a local authority to be alerted if a child born outside the UK and looked-after under private fostering arrangements moves into that local authority area.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222182, if she will make it her policy to record instances where a child born outside the UK is looked-after under a private fostering arrangement and that arrangement breaks down.

Mr Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not collect records of instances of children born outside the UK and looked-after under private fostering arrangements being referred to a local authority for care. The Department publishes all of the information that it collects on private fostering arrangements in the statistical first release entitled “Notifications of private fostering arrangements in England: 2014”: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/notifications-of-private-fostering-arrangements-in-england-2014 There is also a guide on what information is collected on private fostering available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/285616/2014-15_Private_Fostering_Guide_v1.1.pdf. A local authority should be informed of private fostering arrangements in its area. Local authority guidance on private fostering, including on notification requirements, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-act-1989-private-fostering; and here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-minimum-standards-for-private-fostering The Children (Private Arrangements for Fostering) Regulations 2005 can be found here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1533/made There are currently no plans to review policy relating to private fostering arrangements.

Educational Psychology

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2015 to Question 222652, how many educational psychologists first qualified in each of the last five years.

Mr Edward Timpson: The table below outlines the number of educational psychology students who have graduated since 2009. The number of training places increased by 10% from 120 to 132 per intake in 2014: Year (intake)200920102011201220132014Newly qualifiededucational psychologists 117115119117118119

Unemployment: Young People

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many 16 to 18 year-olds in (a) Lancashire and (b) England were not in education, employment or training in each of the last two years.

Nick Boles: Definitive national estimates of participation in education, training and employment for young people aged 16 to 18 are published by the Department for Education in a Statistical First Release each June. The latest estimate at the end of 2013 shows that the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) was at a record low.   These estimates cannot be broken down to local authority level. However, local authorities collect information on 16 to 18-year-olds who are NEET in each local authority area in England. This information, including data for Lancashire, is published annually on GOV.UK [1], and we will add figures for 2014 on 19 March. This local authority information shows a total number of 16 to-18-year-olds NEET in England of 100,930 at the end of 2012, and 92,170 at the end of 2013, showing a reduction of 8,760.   It should be noted that the total number of young people NEET in the local authority data is lower than that in the national estimates. This is because local authority records relate only to those young people whose activity is known to them and are therefore likely to exclude some young people who are NEET.  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neet-data-by-local-authority-2012-16-to-18-year-olds-not-in-education-employment-or-training

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Mr Nick Gibb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 March 2015 to UIN:227295

Macquarie Bank

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings her Department has had with Macquarie Bank since May 2010; and who was present at such meetings.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which of her Department's projects Macquarie Bank has invested in since May 2010; and how much it has invested in each such project.

Mr Edward Timpson: Macquarie Bank has not invested in any projects for which the Department for Education is the procuring authority. According to the information held by the Department, Macquarie Bank has also not invested in any education PFI projects procured by Local Authorities.   The Department has recently procured an Aggregator funding vehicle to provide finance to the five private finance Priority Schools Building Programme projects. In that context, the Private Finance team at the Education Funding Agency and their professional advisers met with Macquarie Capital on a number of occasions from Winter 2013 to Summer 2014.   Information from the rest of the Department could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Children: Autism

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to improve educational provision for children with autism.

Mr Edward Timpson: It is vital that all children are able to fulfil their potential. The Department for Education continues to fund the Autism Education Trust which provides training on autism to early years, school and further education staff. Since Spring 2012, approximately 50,000 staff have received training across all levels: level one basic awareness training and level two hands-on tools and techniques training. Level three training has also been provided for those who want to develop their knowledge of autism further or will themselves take on a training role, such as school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators. The contract for this training has recently been extended for a further year, to the end of March 2016.  The Department has funded three autism organisations between 2013-15, including Ambitious about Autism, to work with four general further education colleges and schools to test innovative ways of supporting the transition of young people with autism from school to college. The Department has also provided funding to the National Autistic Society in order to help young people with autism take part in the development of local offers of services, to provide advice to professionals and to fund an exclusion adviser for parents and professionals.

Teachers: Surveys

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received on the use of email addresses received from respondents to her Department's Teacher Workload survey.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education has received one representation, from the NASUWT, about the use of email addresses received from respondents to the Workload Challenge Survey.

Ministry of Justice

Bail

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of offenders were released from Crown courts on post-conviction bail for the offences of (a) murder, (b) rape, (c) manslaughter, (d) attempted murder and (e) child sex abuse in each of the last three years.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders of which offence type released from Crown Courts on post conviction bail subsequently failed to surrender for sentencing in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike Penning: Bail and remand decisions are a matter for the court in individual cases based on the facts that are presented to the court at the time of the hearing. Under this government more people are going to prison and for longer. We have given prosecutors the right to challenge a decision to award bail to a defendant in a criminal case when they believe they present a danger to the public, or might flee the country. The table below shows the number and proportion of offenders given post-conviction bail at the Crown Court for the selected offences, in England & Wales in each year from 2011 to 2013. The number and proportion of offenders given post-conviction bail at Crown Courts for rape, manslaughter, attempted murder and sexual offences against children has declined since 2011. Number and proportion of offenders given post-conviction bail at Crown court for selected offences, England & Wales, 2011 to 2013(1)201120122013OffenceOffenders   Murderpost-conviction bail--- proportion (%)--- Rapepost-conviction bail10211995 proportion (%)9.010.68.7 Manslaughterpost-conviction bail144129115 proportion (%)27.727.322.9 Attempted murderpost-conviction bail3-- proportion (%)*-- Sexual offences against childrenpost-conviction bail1,2771,1471,105 proportion (%)34.833.232.4  (-) Nil * = Based on less than 10 people. (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Includes the following offences: Sexual Offences Act 1956, Sexual Offences Act 2003 sections 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26, 28, 47, 48, 49, 50; Protection of Children Act 1978 SS.1 & 6, Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.160. Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.   Ref: PQ 208543 The table below shows the number of offenders given post-conviction bail at the Crown Court who subsequently failed to appear for sentence, in England & Wales during 2013. This figure has declined since 2011 for almost every offence type. Overall there has been a 35% decrease in the total number of offenders given post-conviction bail at Crown Court who subsequently failed to appear for sentence since 2011. Offenders given post-conviction bail at Crown court who subsequently failed to appear for sentence, England & Wales, 2013(1)  Offence2013  Violence against the person26Sexual offences11Robbery15Theft Offences63Criminal damage and arson4Drug offences56Possession of weapons5Public order offences13Miscellaneous crimes against society34Fraud Offences17Offences (ex. motoring offences)4Motoring offences-  Total248  (-) Nil   (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  Note: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.Ref: PQ 208575  Decisions regarding post-conviction bail are made independently by judges. They will not take this decision unless they deem it to be appropriate in each particular case. A little more than 30% of those getting post-conviction bail go on to an immediate custodial sentence, with the remainder sentenced to non-custodial alternatives.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The department’s advertising budget is shown in the table below: Financial YearTotal Advertising BudgetTelevisionRadioNational NewspaperRegional NewspaperSocial MediaOther2010- 2011£0£0£0£0£0£0£02011- 2012£0£0£0£0£0£0£02012- 2013£0£0£0£0£0£0£02013- 2014£0£0£0£0£0£0£02014 -2015£0.35m£0£0£0£0£0.35m£0 The advertising budget in 2014-15 was allocated for social media work around Restorative Justice and Family Mediation. Unlike a number of the issues we deal with, we felt these two campaigns would most benefit from a small amount of paid for social media and digital advertising activity. The budgets shown above do not include spend on recruitment advertising as records are not held centrally.

Bail

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions bail decisions were challenged using powers granted under section 90 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 in each of the last three years.

Mike Penning: The information requested is not collected centrally. Applications to the High Court under section 90 are rare but the Crown Prosecution Service is ready to use this right of challenge in suitable cases.

Northumberland Prison

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to ensure the separation of sex offenders from other prisoners currently housed together at HM Prison Northumberland; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Selous: Sex offenders at HM Prison Northumberland are accommodated separately from mainstream prisoners. On occasion, following a risk assessment, a vulnerable prisoner who is not a sex offender may be removed from the mainstream accommodation for his own protection and placed in the sex offender accommodation. Work is under way to reduce the number of other vulnerable prisoners co-located with sex offenders. New assessment and review processes are about to be implemented. Transfers to other prisons will be arranged where appropriate.

Parole Board

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether relatives of victims of crime are compensated for the cost of attending parole boards to make victim impact statements.

Mike Penning: This Government is committed to putting victims and witnesses first in the criminal justice system and to ensure they have access to high-quality, effective and timely support to help them cope and, as far as possible, recover from the effects of crime.We are working with the Parole Board to increase the number of hearings which Parole Board Panels hold using video-link technology at oral hearings. This has the positive benefit of giving more victims the opportunity to deliver their victim personal statement locally rather than incur the cost, inconvenience and potential distress of travelling to the prison in which the Parole Board hearing is taking place.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Mr Shailesh Vara: In the 2014 People Survey, 24% of Ministry of Justice respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. 11% of Ministry of Justice respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.

Driving: Disqualification

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects section 29 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 to be commenced.

Mike Penning: Driving offences resulting in the tragic consequences of death or serious injury bring untold misery to victims’ families. It is right that the maximum prison sentence for causing death by driving while disqualified has been increased and a new offence of serious injury has been created. These new provisions will be commenced very soon.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Pensions

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on HM Naval Service pensions in each of the last three years.

Anna Soubry: The information in the table below has been extracted from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Annual Accounts and shows how much was spent on HM Naval Service pensions in each of the last three financial years.  £ millionPensionsLump SumsWidows/DependantsTotal2013-14732.1108.167.1907.32012-13723.6126.565.2915.32011-12691.8195.162.3849.2Note 1: Figure Contains Early Departure lump sum payments and Early Departure Payment ongoing payments. Later years do not include Early Departure Payment ongoing payments.

Military Aircraft

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans for UK-crewed fighter jets to be stationed on the deck of a Queen-Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.

Mr Philip Dunne: HMS Queen Elizabeth will spend time on acceptance, commissioning and trials activity, and training of the ship's company, to ensure she is ready to start aircraft operations. This will allow a coherent build-up of capability including aircraft trials, in order to deliver an Initial Operating Capability (Carrier Strike) in 2020, at which point she will be capable of operating a wide number of aircraft, including helicopters and the UK's F-35B aircraft.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on Royal Air Force pensions in each of the last three years.

Anna Soubry: The information in the table below has been extracted from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Annual Accounts and shows how much was spent on Royal Air Force pensions in each of the last three financial years.£ millionPensionsLump SumsWidows/DependantsTotal2013-141,010.0137.6104.41,252.02012-13993.5162.4102.01,257.92011-12955.61139.798.51,193.8 Note 1: Figure Contains Early Departure lump sum payments and Early Departure Payment ongoing payments. Later years do not include Early Departure Payment ongoing payments.

Children: Maintenance

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Child Maintenance Service payments and Child Support Agency collections are made; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: As an employer, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes its duties in recovering child support maintenance very seriously. The MOD has a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) to facilitate the direct deduction of child maintenance payments from the pay of non-resident parents who are Service personnel.Where a parent asks the CMS to help obtain appropriate child support from a Service person, the MOD will assist the CMS in engaging with the Service person and will implement any Deduction from Earnings Request submitted by the CMS. This mechanism can also be applied to Service pensions and civilian pay.The only exception is when the Service person is in an operational zone. Under the terms of the MOU, if a Service person is committed to operations, their Commanding Officer may delay any engagement with the CMS until the non-resident parent is in a position to consider any papers that the CMS may send them and respond appropriately.

Veterans: Training

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to help military personnel whose employment ceased as a result of the reduction in regular troop numbers to find alternative work.

Anna Soubry: Assisting our former Service personnel to make the transition to civilian employment is of major importance to the Department. All personnel leaving the Armed Forces are entitled to resettlement provision, consisting of time, funding and training, depending on length of service.The single Services offer advice, information and guidance to Service leavers on the exact nature of their entitlement. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP), a partnering arrangement between the Department and Right Management Ltd, delivers a suite of transition services - training, job-finding and career transition workshops through regional resettlement centres - to those who are eligible. Of those who use the CTP services, 83% gain employment within six months of leaving the Services.Advice given to Service leavers also includes "financial aspects of resettlement" briefings, to which spouses/partners are also invited, covering budget and debt management, managing pension schemes and guidance on the charity-led 'Benefits and Money Advice' service.Service leavers also have access to life-long employment support through the Regular Forces Employment Association and Officers Association.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on British army pensions in each of the last three years.

Anna Soubry: The information in the table below has been extracted from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Annual Accounts and shows how much was spent on British Army pensions in each of the last three financial years.  £ millionPensionsLump SumsWidows/DependantsTotal2013-141,450.8330.61,48.61,930.02012-131,443.1307.31,47.21,897.62011-121.364.01263.41,40.21,767.6   Note 1: Figure Contains Early Departure lump sum payments and Early Departure Payment ongoing payments. Later years do not include Early Departure Payment ongoing payments.

Warships

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many suitably qualified and experienced personnel positions are (a) required and (b) vacant in (i) Type 23 and (ii) Type 45 ship crews.

Anna Soubry: The information requested, as at 12 March 2015, is shown in the following table:  Required PositionsVacant PositionsType 231,990180Type 451,15075Note: All figures are rounded in accordance with the Defence Statistics rounding policy. All numbers over 100 are rounded to the nearest 10 with numbers ending in 5 rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to avoid bias. Numbers under 100 are rounded to the nearest 5.None of the existing vacancies is in a post categorised as safety critical and no ship would go to sea without the minimum required complement of suitably qualified and experienced personnel.

Department for Work and Pensions

Incapacity Benefit

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) original forecast of expenditure savings and (b) actual expenditure savings were from the reassessment of incapacity benefit claims since 2010.

Mr Mark Harper: Holding answer received on 16 March 2015



 The original estimate of the economic impact of the reassessment of Incapacity Benefit claims from 2010 was a net saving of £1,000 million (net present value, 2009/10 prices) over the years 2009/10 to 2013/14. This figure was published by the previous Government on 29 March 2010 in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regulations 2010 (2010 No. 875), published at this address: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/875/pdfs/uksiem_20100875_en.pdf.) Actual savings from Incapacity Benefit reassessment are not available. Isolating the impact of any single policy change becomes increasingly uncertain as new policy beds into the benefits system, and becomes the norm. As Chris Grayling, when Minister for Employment, said to the Work and Pensions Select Committee, Incapacity Benefit reassessment is not a savings measure – it is not a financially based exercise, although clearly if we succeed it will save money – but is about identifying the people who have the potential to return to work, and helping them to do so.

Young People: Government Assistance

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support his Department provides to 18 and 19 year olds in employment who have never attended college or university.

Esther McVey: 18 and 19 year olds who are working fewer than 16 hours per week may be entitled to out of work benefits. In areas where Universal Credit has been rolled out, 18 and 19 year olds who are on a low income or out of work may be entitled to claim Universal Credit.

Personal Independence Payment

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time was for a decision to be made on a personal independence payment claim in each year since 2010.

Mr Mark Harper: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was introduced for new claimants in a limited geographic area from April 2013 and nationally from June 2013.We published initial statistics on Assessment Provider referrals and returns, clearances and outstanding claims for new claims on 28 January.We intend to release PIP clearance times and waiting/outstanding times statistics on 18 March and have pre-announced this in line with UK Statistics Authority release protocols. All PIP statistics are available from the PIP Statistics home page: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics.

Employment and Support Allowance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was for a decision on a claim for employment support allowance in each year from 2013 to date.

Mr Mark Harper: This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice. The average time from date of claim to referral to the assessment provider is 10.9 working days. Claimants are paid the ESA assessment rate from the date of claim.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Esther McVey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, the member for Horsham (Mr Maude) on Tuesday 17 March 2015 to Question UIN227295.

Universal Credit: Scotland

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Scotland likely to be affected by changes to universal credit made by the Universal Credit (Surpluses and Self-employed Losses) (Digital Service) Amendment Regulations 2015.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is not available.

Universal Credit: Inverness

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on the level of rent arrears among claimants in the Inverness area.

Mr Mark Harper: In December 2014, we published the independent evaluation of the Universal Credit Direct Payment Demonstration Projects. This report showed that asking claimants to take responsibility for paying their rent did not lead to big increases in rent arrears. We are drawing on the findings from these Projects as part of our approach to continually improving the service. The reports can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-payment-demonstration-projects-final-reports

Disposable Income

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the level of disposable income of each (a) age group and (b) income group in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland was in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Esther McVey: Annual estimates by country of median and mean disposable equivalised household income by age group (i.e. for children, working age adults and pensioners) on a three-year average basis are available from the latest Households Below Average Income publication. These different age groups can be found in tables 2.6ts (for children); 2.7ts (for working age adults); 2.8ts (for pensioners). These can be accessed via the ‘Supporting data tables’ link in here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201213 Estimates of median disposable income of quintile income group by country are not available in the Households Below Average Income publication and therefore are presented in the tables below.  (i)UK- £pw equivalised 2012/13 pricesQuintile group medians Quintile 1Quintile 2Quintile 3Quintile 4Quintile 5   (median)  Income Before Housing Costs 08/09-10/1123434746161394409/10-11/1223434345360192110/11-12/13230338444587895  Income After Housing Costs 08/09-10/1116528540155086709/10-11/1216327939253684210/11-12/13160273381520814(ii) Scotland - £pw equivalised 2012/13 prices   Quintile group medians Quintile 1Quintile 2Quintile 3Quintile 4Quintile 5   (median)  Income Before Housing Costs 08/09-10/1123835346460989709/10-11/1224135145859886610/11-12/13235343447580843  Income After Housing Costs 08/09-10/1118130642156283909/10-11/1218330140954580810/11-12/13175292396525783 (iii) England - £pw equivalised 2012/13 prices   Quintile group medians Quintile 1Quintile 2Quintile 3Quintile 4Quintile 5   (median)  Income Before Housing Costs 08/09-10/1123434946461996209/10-11/1223434545660794010/11-12/13231341448594913  Income After Housing Costs 08/09-10/1116328340055387909/10-11/1216227839153985610/11-12/13159272381524828 (iv) Wales - £pw equivalised 2012/13 pricesQuintile group medians Quintile 1Quintile 2Quintile 3Quintile 4Quintile 5   (median)  Income Before Housing Costs 08/09-10/1123132843856982709/10-11/1222431842755178310/11-12/13217310416540759  Income After Housing Costs 08/09-10/1117128238651676809/10-11/1216527137349872910/11-12/13158260360487709 (v)Northern Ireland - £pw equivalised 2012/13 prices   Quintile group medians Quintile 1Quintile 2Quintile 3Quintile 4Quintile 5   (median)  Income Before Housing Costs 08/09-10/1122032342754779209/10-11/1221531341053377610/11-12/13213309398514740  Income After Housing Costs 08/09-10/1118128838650175009/10-11/1217027737048773110/11-12/13168270359467696 Source: HBAI Notes1. Estimates for Government regions are presented as three year rolling averages. This is to ensure that the sample size is sufficient to produce robust estimates. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response.

Children: Maintenance

Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department's 2013 Impact Assessment No. DWP0031, if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the (a) £123 million estimated cost of caseworker activity related to Child Support Agency (CSA) case arrears as part of the CSA case closure programme and (b) £20 million estimated cost of setting up areas on the Child Maintenance Service System; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: The impact assessment (para 93) included high level estimates of (a) the costs (around £103m) of caseworker activity to review and update estimates of arrears on the existing systems for the circa 1.2m cases expected to have arrears when CSA liability ends and (b) the costs (around £20m) to set up arrears on the new child maintenance system. These estimates were based on broad assumptions about the volume and timings of relevant activities and before the detailed business processes and IT involved had been designed or developed.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance referred to the Work Programme in 2013 or earlier (i) have and (ii) have not achieved a sustained job outcome.

Esther McVey: The information requested in respect of the Work Programme is published and available at:http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Employment Schemes

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to support faith-based employment support initiatives since May 2010.

Esther McVey: DWP employment programmes such as the Work Programme, Youth Contract and Mandatory Employment Programmes are open to all claimants , regardless of race, gender and faith. Under the Flexible Support Fund, Jobcentre Plus District Manager’s have freedom and flexibility to take forward local support initiatives, including for specific groups.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to implement consistent communications by his Department on mandatory reconsideration.

Mr Mark Harper: We recognise the importance of consistent messaging in Mandatory Reconsiderations which were introduced in 2013 as a result of the Appeals Reform Project. The need for better information throughout the benefit process was evident, providing clear progression and escalation of any disputes. The claimant is now better informed through this systematic approach plus better and constant messaging. DWP is continuing improvements in customer communications and ensuring effective communications are sent to claimants. We have a specific team to work with a range of stakeholders and drive improved communications across our different customer areas. We do this by using behavioural insight, innovation and excellent communications practice to improve customer experience and reduce avoidable cost. Through having this specific team, we can ensure product consistency by a consistent body taking forward changes. There is specific accountability to ensure the accuracy of our communications, the embedding of process compliance and also to ensure that our products meet the needs of both the business and our customers. We seek feedback on messaging from customers and implement changes as a result. For example, customers have fed back that they would like written notification of their request to withdraw and as such, we have implemented a trial to test this. By having accountability in one area, we are able to ensure consistency in the development of products.

Jobclubs

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to support job clubs run by volunteers since May 2010.

Esther McVey: Work Club funding of up to £10,000 start-up costs was available under Get Britain Working. Since April 2012, when central funding ceased, District Managers have the discretion to fund start-up costs from their core budgets dependent on local demand.

Research

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what amount his Department and its agencies spent on research and development in each year since 2010-11; and what proportion such spending was of total departmental spending.

Esther McVey: Information on the total amount of expenditure by DWP on both research and development and the total departmental spending on services is publicly available on gov.uk as part of the Country and Regional Analysis statistical release. This information covers 2009-10 through to 2013-14 and can be found at the following web link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/country-and-regional-analysis-2014 This data can be accessed by using either the ‘interactive tables’ or the ‘database’. The CRA is compiled from departmental spending data submitted to HM Treasury on services, split by sub-functions. This data that each department provides, uses internationally-agreed definitions called the Classifications of the Functions of Government (UN COFOG). These functions include and separately identify expenditure on various Research and Development activities.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in his Department and its executive agencies and associated bodies were engaged off-payroll in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available.

Esther McVey: The Department publishes details of all staff engaged off payroll in its Annual Report and Accounts and the information requested can be found at the following links: DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2013-2014DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2012-2013DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2011-2012

Funeral Payments: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Preston constituency (a) applied for and (b) received a Social Fund funeral payment in 2014.

Steve Webb: DWP does not hold data on Funeral Expenses Payments at constituency level. The lowest geographical level at which we hold the data is by Social Fund Budget Area; the geographical areas used to administer the Social Fund in Great Britain. The Budget Area covering Preston is Chorlton Benefit Delivery Centre (BDC). Table 1 shows the number of Funeral Expenses Payment a) applications and b) awards in the Chorlton BDC Budget Area in 2014. The Chorlton BDC Budget Area covers parts of 31 different Local Authorities, so these figures will include Funeral Expenses Payments made outside of the constituency of Preston. The number of awards made in each year is not equal to the number of people who made applications or received awards in that year. An individual may make multiple applications in a given time period. DWP does not hold data on the number of individuals making applications.  Table 1: Funeral Expenses Payment applications and awards in the Chorlton BDC Social Fund Budget Area in 2014 Year ApplicationsAwards20145,0102,950   Notes · These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.·· The number of applications and awards are rounded the nearest 10.

Carer's Allowance: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Preston constituency are in receipt of carer's allowance.

Mr Mark Harper: In the Preston constituency in May 2014 there were 1,530 people receiving Carer’s Allowance. This is the latest data available, is rounded to the nearest 10 and is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dwp-statistics-tabulation-tool

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in her Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Dan Rogerson: The Civil Service People Survey asks the question “Do you have any long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability?” The survey does not include a question that specifically identifies disability status.   In the 2014 People Survey, 17% of core Defra respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.   7% of core Defra respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Dan Rogerson: The Department does not record information at the level of detail requested, and to determine such information would incur disproportionate cost. However, the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts set out details of total spend on publicity, marketing and promotion each year. The table below shows such spend in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2013-14 (the last financial year for which a set of accounts has been published).   Financial YearSpend on Publicity, Marketing and Promotion (£000)2010/111,6592011/128692012/131,2172013/141,060

Air Pollution: York

Sir Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of air quality in (a) York Central constituency and (b) City of York local authority area in 2010 and each subsequent year.

Dan Rogerson: Defra uses both monitoring and modelling to assess air quality in the UK. Information about recent and historic levels of pollution, pollution forecasts, health advice and background modelled data is available on the UK-AIR website: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk.   Defra has two monitoring stations in the City of York Local Authority area, both of which are located in the York Central constituency. Information about the sites and the pollutants measured is available at:   · York Fishergate: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/site-info?uka_id=UKA00524   · York Bootham: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/site-info?uka_id=UKA00523   Monitoring is supported by modelled data. Information on modelled background and roadside levels for major roads in the UK can be found at: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/data/gis-mapping.   The results of both monitoring and modelling for compliance with European Directives are assessed annually and reported to the EU. ‘Air Pollution in the UK’ reports from 2010 to the present can be found at: http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/annualreport.  Local authorities are responsible for reviewing and assessing air quality under the Local Air Quality Management system. As part of this assessment, the City of York Council undertakes additional monitoring. Information can be found at: http://www.jorair.co.uk/index.php?page=stations.

Insects

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support businesses in developing areas  which support pollinators.

Dan Rogerson: The National Pollinator Strategy, launched in November last year, is a shared plan of action for Government, businesses and others to support the health and resilience of England’s pollinators.   As part of the strategy, the Bees’ Needs website (www.beesneeds.org.uk) offers guidance to businesses and individuals on the steps that they can take to support pollinators. The website includes tailored guidance for land managers on how to implement the Bees’ Needs actions on a variety of land uses, and case studies which showcase best practice by local authorities, businesses and other organisations.   Lord de Mauley has also contacted major retailers, DIY outlets and garden centres to encourage them to have pollinator-friendly plant and product displays in their shops. Their positive responses have highlighted the range of important actions that businesses can and are already taking to support bee and other insect pollinators.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Written Questions: Government Responses

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to answer Question 217185, tabled on 4 December 2014 by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton North East.

Brandon Lewis: Question 217185 was answered on 17 March 2015.

Councillors

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local government representatives on altering section 7 (2) and (3) of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to elections in metropolitan districts.

Kris Hopkins: Whilst we have had no such discussions about these provisions in the Local Government Act 1972, which provide for metropolitan district councils to elect a third of the council in each of 3 years out of 4, my officials have had discussions or consultations with the councils of Birmingham and Rotherham about changing the pattern of their elections to the whole of the council being elected every four years. I have laid the necessary statutory orders to move Birmingham to whole council elections from May 2018 and I intend shortly to lay the order to move Rotherham to whole council elections from May 2016.

Lobbying

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Statement of 23 February 2015, Official Report, column 292WS, on Protecting Public Money, which are the (a) five local enterprise partnerships and (b) local authorities which have been paying for lobbyists in potential non-compliance with the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

Kris Hopkins: There is clear evidence of lobbying by Local Enterprise Partnerships by examination of current registers from the Association of Professional Political Consultants and from the Public Relations Consultants Association for public affairs consultancy (not public relations contracts): Recent registers have listed the following: Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Bellenden Public Affairs;Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership – Edelman;Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Instinctif;Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Instinctif. Previous editions of the registers have also recorded: Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership – Burson-Marsteller;Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership – Insight Public Affairs;Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership – College Public Policy;Sheffield Local Enterprise Partnership – Connect Public Affairs. There may be further lobbying contracts which have not been declared. I am also aware that Northamptonshire Local Enterprise Partnership in 2014 published a lobbying contract tender.On one level, the transparency by the public affairs companies themselves is to be welcomed. However, as outlined in the Written Miniterial Statement of 23 February (HCWS292), the Government deems this expenditure to be an inappropriate and wasteful use of taxpayers’ money.The same registers also show that a number of local authorities have public affairs consultancies, which seems at odds with the provisions in the local government Publicity Code.

Council Tax

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in how many local authorities council tax has not increased in each year since 2010.

Kris Hopkins: To assist the hon. Member, the attached table compares the rises in council tax in England under this Government with the last Labour Government. Overall, average council tax bills more than doubled under the Labour Government, but have fallen by 11% in real terms under this Government. This is due to this Government's council tax freeze and due to the provisions in the Localism Act to allow local residents to veto excessive council tax rises. 



Council tax changes
(Word Document, 23.66 KB)

Fast Food

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications for fast food restaurants have been (a) approved and (b) rejected in residential areas in each local authority area in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: The requested information is not held by the Department.Although the Department collects information from local planning authorities on the numbers of planning applications decided each quarter, the numbers of applications relating to fast food restaurants are not separately identified.

McDonalds Restaurants

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received on the planning implications of the strategy of McDonald's for opening fast food restaurants in residential areas.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has not received any recent correspondence on this matter.

Local Plans: Sustainable Development

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to assist local authorities in publishing local plans for sustainable development.

Brandon Lewis: The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework, published on 27 March 2012, sets out that it is the purpose of planning to enable sustainable development. The Framework must be taken into account in both developing Local Plans and taking decisions on particular planning applications. The Government has since published planning guidance on 6 March 2014 which reiterates the importance of planning for sustainable development, and provides practical advice on how to achieve positive economic, social and environmental outcomes in plan-making.

Non-domestic Rates: Barnet

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of businesses that will receive the planned reduction in business rates in (a) the London Borough of Barnet and (b) Hendon constituency in 2015-16.

Kris Hopkins: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced at the 2014 Autumn Statement an extra £650 million of support for 2015-16 business rate bills, bringing the total support of 2013 and 2014 Autumn Statement polices to £1.4 billion. This help includes: doubling small business rate relief for a further year. In England, this means an estimated 400,000 properties will pay no rates at all, while a further 200,000 properties will benefit from tapered relief;a 2% cap on the increase of the small business rates multiplier. This is a continuation of the 2% cap introduced in 2014-15 as part of Autumn Statement 2013 measures;increasing the temporary discount for shops, pubs and restaurants with rateable values below £50,000 from £1,000 to £1,500 for 2015-16, benefitting an estimated 200,000 properties in England; andextending the existing transitional relief scheme for two years for properties with a rateable value up to and including £50,000. These measures are in addition to previous Autumn Statement measures that continue into 2015-16, including: a 50 per cent discount for 18 months to new occupants of vacant shops;allowing businesses to keep their small business rate relief for a year where they take on an additional property;business rates relief for empty new builds; andallowing businesses to pay their business rate bills over 12 months, in order to assist with their cash flow. Central Government also now funds 50% of any additional local discounts granted. The Department does not collect data on a constituency basis, but Hendon constituency lies entirely within the boundary of the London Borough of Barnet. Table 1 attached shows the estimated number of properties in 2015-16 within the boundary of the London Borough of Barnet that benefit from business rates measures extended in this year’s Autumn Statement.



Table 1
(Word Document, 28.18 KB)

Mobile Homes

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in how many local authority areas park home site owners have breached their site licences more than three times in the last two years.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities are taking proceedings against park home site owners who have breached their site licences more than three times in the last two years.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have revoked the licences of park home site owners who have breached their site licences more than three times in the last two years.

Stephen Williams: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold details of the number of local authority areas where site owners have breached their site licences, or details of the number of local authorities taking proceedings against site owners, or the number of local authorities who have revoked the licences of park home site owners who have breached their site licences. This Government is determined to improve life for park home residents and we have already given residents important new rights to improve their lives and protect them from rogue site owners.We know that a source of real anxiety for residents is the poor state of some sites and the lack of routine maintenance and repairs. That is why this Government has given local authorities, for the first time, powers to issue compliance notices requiring a site owner to carry out any necessary work to the site to comply with their licence obligations. If the site owner fails to comply, the local authority will be able to prosecute them and if convicted they will face an unlimited fine. The local authority may then enter the site and do the necessary works. In an emergency, a local authority may also enter a site and do the works if it considers there is an imminent risk to the health and safety of residents. The authority will in any of these cases be able to recover all its enforcement costs directly from the site owner. We have published guidance for local authorities on how to use their new powers to best effect. We have also given local authorities powers to refuse to grant a new application or transfer of a site licence. We have issued guidance which sets out the matters an authority can take into account when considering an application including the funding and management arrangements in place for managing the site and complying with the licence.

HM Treasury

Welfare Tax Credits: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions the Tax Credit Office instructed bailiffs to collect overpaid tax credits from people in Preston constituency in each year since 2010.

Priti Patel: HMRC has not instructed bailiffs to collect overpaid tax credits in the Preston constituency.

Lloyds Banking Group

Chris Leslie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons details of the latest sale of Government held shares in Lloyds Banking Group were not published by UK Financial Investments.

Chris Leslie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fees are payable to JP Morgan for its role in managing the trading plan to sell the remaining holdings of Government held shares in Lloyds Banking Group.

Chris Leslie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's announcement, Government sells more shares in Lloyds through trading plan, published on 9 March 2015, how many shares in Lloyds Banking Group the Government sold, and at what price per share.

Andrea Leadsom: On 17 December 2014 the Chancellor authorised the sale of a third part of the government’s shareholding in Lloyds Banking Group via a trading plan. The plan is ongoing and will end no later than 30 June 2015. Morgan Stanley act as broker on behalf of HM Treasury to execute the trading plan. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require HMG as seller to inform the market each time its shareholding has crossed through a one percentage point threshold, which is typically released via RNS by the company. Lloyds have therefore released two such statements since the launch of the trading plan, on 23 February and 9 March 2015. These contain details of the government’s remaining shareholding in Lloyds. On both occasions, the government released a statement confirming these announcements. On 9 March 2015 the government confirmed that the total amount of money raised through the trading plan was over £1bn and that the government’s shareholding in Lloyds had fallen below 23%. As I informed the House in my written statement on 18 December, a statement will be laid before Parliament with further details at the end of the plan. In order to get the best deal for the taxpayer, I will not provide a running commentary on the price of shares and the precise number sold while the trading plan is ongoing. However, the Chancellor has made clear that no shares will be sold below the average price the previous government paid for them (i.e. 73.6p).

Welfare Tax Credits

Mark Hendrick: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when it was decided that bailiffs could be used to recover alleged overpayment of tax credits; who took that decision; and whether it is his policy that processes to recover alleged overpayments are stayed at the request of an hon. Member for such an allegation to be investigated.

Priti Patel: HMRC does not use bailiffs to recover overpayments of tax credits. HMRC is required to balance the need to investigate concerns or complaints with its duty to collect money owed, and will therefore carry out an initial investigation in order to be able to decide, on the facts of the case, whether or not it should halt the pursuit of a debt.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Procurement

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of the amount (a) his Department and (b) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on procurement was paid to small and medium-sized enterprises (i) directly and (ii) through the supply chain in the last year for which figures are available.

Amber Rudd: The information requested is provided in the table below: DECC SME Spend Jan - Dec 2014Procurement SpendDirect SME SpendIndirect SME SpendTotal SME SpendSME Spend as % of Procurement Spend(£)(£)(£)(£)DECC Core Department£195,933,864£12,347,092£0£12,347,0926.30%Civil Nuclear Police Authority£22,088,587£7,530,834£0£7,530,83434.09%Coal Authority£34,733,476£5,668,917£0£5,668,91716.32%Committee on Climate Change£810,542£534,489£0£534,48965.94%NDA (Core)£91,039,174£15,601,340£3,143,189£18,744,52920.59%NDA (SLC)£1,839,653,169N/A£387,934,787£387,934,78721.09%DECC Group£2,184,258,812£41,682,672£391,077,976£432,760,64819.81%* All expenditure through the NDA Site Licenced Companies is indirect.

Billing

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of undisputed invoices his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies paid within five days in the last period for which figures are available.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of suppliers to his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies paid subcontractors within 30 days in the last period for which figures are available.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of suppliers to his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are signatories to the Prompt Payment Code.

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what requirements his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies place on suppliers in respect of their payment terms to subcontractors as part of their standard terms and conditions.

Amber Rudd: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) does not hold any information on payments made within 30 days by its suppliers to sub-contractors as it has no direct relationship with its suppliers’ contractors.The proportion of suppliers as signatories to the Prompt Payment Code are shown below: % suppliers as signatoriesCore-DECCFigures not availableCoal Authority6%Civil Nuclear Police AuthorityFigures not availableNuclear Decommissioning AuthorityFigures not availableCommittee on Climate Change17%The Department’s terms and conditions are published in the “DECC Standard Terms & Conditions for Supplies”:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/65524/6467-decc-standard-terms-and-conditions-for-supliers-p.pdf.Section 4 stipulates that “if the Contractor uses a sub-contractor for the purpose of performing the Services or any part of it, the Contractor shall include in the relevant contract a provision which requires the Contractor to pay for those goods or services within 30 days of the Contractor receiving a correct invoice from the sub-contractor”.For the core Department, the average proportion of undisputed invoices paid within five days is 99.2%. Figures are published each month on the government website at Gov.UK here:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/about/procurement#prompt-payments.For the Department’s NDPBs and from available information, the average figure is 97%.

Mental Illness

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department has taken to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination as a result of signing up to the Time to Change Pledge.

Amber Rudd: DECC has taken the following steps to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination signing up to the Time to Change Pledge on 3rd December 2013:- signed the Department of Health’s Public Health Responsibility Deal pledge on mental health and wellbeing in December 2013- produced a “Mental Health Toolkit” in December 2013 to support DECC managers and staff, allowing them to understand how a disability or long-term health condition might affect people in the workplace and providing practical information, advice and tools to help inform decision-making- promoted the Time to Change “Time to Talk Day” initiative to DECC staff by publishing staff stories of their own and experiences of mental health as part of a departmental day of open discussion on the topic of mental health in February 2014- arranged a “Mental Wellbeing Week” in May 2014 providing a week of activities aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues to DECC staff and to our wider colleagues across Whitehall- arranged for Dementia Friends to provide presentations to DECC staff and colleagues across Whitehall in May and June 2014 to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and to ask for volunteers to become Dementia Friends- supported the request from Una O’Brien for support of the Dementia Friends initiative across the Civil Service by encouraging all staff to complete the requisite online registration tool in June 2014- wrote to all DECC staff in February 2014 encouraging them to support the Dementia Friends initiative by DECC is setting a departmental challenge - to create 50 Dementia Friends from our staff by March 2015- published an article on the departmental intranet from a senior member of staff aimed at raising awareness of mental health and hidden disabilities in March 2015.

Advertising

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his Department's advertising and communications expenditure was in each month since September 2014; and what that expenditure is forecast to be in March 2015.

Amber Rudd: The spend on advertising, campaigns and media services for the period requested is set out in the table below. The March 2015 figure is based on the latest forecasts. Core-DECCexpenditureSeptember 2014October 2014November 2014December 2014January 2015February 2015March 2015 £££££££Advertising£4,434£33,506£3,342£0.319£1,224£353,225£4,336,775Publicity campaigns-£8,070-£11,448£12,000£1,659£79,703 Media Services£1,023,759£35,891£17,228£23,303£19,533£3,663£22,709

Policy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what policies contained in the 2010 Coalition Agreement and falling under his Department's responsibilities have not yet been implemented; and what the reasons are for each such policy's non-implementation.

Amber Rudd: I refer the hon. Member to the Department’s Business Plan which records all commitments, timescales for completion and progress against them. The Business Plan is fully transparent and is available at:www.transparency.number10.gov.uk.

Energy

Mr Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost to the public purse was of the Government's advertising campaign encouraging consumers to switch energy providers.

Amber Rudd: As the campaign is still ongoing the actual final spends are not yet available, but we have allocated a budget for the Power to Switch Campaign as follows:£620,000 to develop, produce and supply advertisements;£4,100,000 to buy advertising space (including agency media buying and communications planning fees).The Power to Switch Campaign encourages people to switch supplier and save money by visiting:www.BeAnEnergyShopper.com.

Energy: Meters

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the success of the smart meter roll-out programme to date; and how many smart meters have been installed under that programme in (a) the UK, (b) the West Midlands and (c) Birmingham, Northfield constituency.

Amber Rudd: Holding answer received on 16 March 2015



The Smart Metering Programme is making good progress. Consumers are already benefiting from smart meters, through accurate bills and helping them to understand their energy use to reduce consumption and save money.Details of some key developments since December 2013 are set out in the Government’s ‘Third Annual Report on the Roll-out of Smart Meters’, published on 11 December 2014:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/third-annual-progress-report-on-the-roll-out-of-smart-meters.In March 2015 DECC published research showing that consumers’ experience of the early rollout has been very positive: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-metering-early-learning-project-and-small-scale-behaviour-trials:­ 82% of customers did not have any concerns about smart metering­ 72% were satisfied with their smart meter and In Home Display overall. Only 4% were dissatisfied­ 89% were satisfied with the installation process.Details of the number of smart meters installed in Great Britain are set out in the Government’s ‘Smart Meters, Great Britain, Quarterly report to end September 2014’, published on 18 December 2014:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistical-release-and-data-smart-meters-great-britain-quarter-3-2014.Over 1 million meters are operating under the Programme, which covers Great Britain. Northern Ireland is undertaking a separate roll-out programme.Currently, data is published only at Great Britain level. Data is not collected from energy suppliers in a format that allows parliamentary constituency data to be produced.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department responded that they were treated fairly at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Amber Rudd: In the 2014 People Survey, 72% of DECC respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work.86% of DECC respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work.To note that the Civil Service People Survey asks the question “Do you have any long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability?” The survey does not include a question that specifically identifies disability status.

Macquarie Bank

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what meetings his Department has had with Macquarie Bank since May 2010; and who was present at such meetings.

Amber Rudd: Details of meetings between Ministers and external organisations are published quarterly on the Departmental website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-energy-climate-change/series/ministers-meeting-with-external-organisations.Details of meetings involving DECC officials with Macquarie Bank during the period requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much his Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Amber Rudd: Total advertising spend, excluding VAT, is set out in the table below. The figures include associated costs such as the production of creative services. A breakdown by category is not available. AdvertisingSpend2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15N/A£118k£137k£3.112M£2.138M Spend in FY 12-13, 13-14 & 14-15 includes advertising for the Green Deal. The Green Deal helps you make energy-saving improvements to your home and find the best way to pay for them.During FY 14-15 we have allocated an advertising budget for the ‘Power to Switch Campaign’ as follows: £620,000 to develop, produce and supply advertisements. This includes budgets agreed with the agency to produce each of the TV and Radio advertisements;£4,100,000 to buy advertising space (including agency media buying and communications planning fees).The FY 14-15 figure includes £335k spent on the ‘Power to Switch Campaign’. Actual final spends are not yet available.The 'Power to Switch' campaign will run for 5 weeks and will include national, regional and online advertising, encouraging people to switch and save.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Amber Rudd: In the 2014 People Survey, 13% of DECC respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.6% of DECC respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months. To note, the Civil Service People Survey asks the question “Do you have any long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability?” The survey does not include a question that specifically identifies disability status.

Housing: Insulation

Mr John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change of 3 February 2015, Official Report, column 22WH, on cavity wall insulation, when he plans to report progress on (a) discussions with Ofgem, (b) obtaining a summary of the number of complaints received by Ofgem and that body's views on those complaints, (c) consideration of a review of complaints, (d) consideration of the case for introducing independent oversight for all guarantees, (e) consideration of introduction of independent assessments two years after installation and (f) consideration of regulation of initial sales conversations.

Amber Rudd: Holding answer received on 16 March 2015



At the recent Westminster debate on 3 February I made a commitment to write to all interested members to update on the actions my officials are taking to review these issues before the dissolution of Parliament.

Energy: Profits

Sir Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information his Department holds on (a) how much profit each of the six largest energy companies made and (b) how much of that profit they distributed to shareholders in (i) 2010 and (ii) each subsequent year.

Matthew Hancock: Any information that the Department may hold is taken from publicly available sources such as the companies’ annual reports.

Research

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what amount his Department and its agencies spent on research and development in each year since 2010-11; and what proportion such spending was of total departmental spending.

Amber Rudd: Information on the total amount of expenditure by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on both research and development and the total Departmental spending on services is publically available on gov.uk as part of the Country and Regional Analysis (CRA) statistical release. This information covers 2009-10 through to 2013-14 and can be found at the following web link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/country-and-regional-analysis-2014This data can be accessed by using either the ‘interactive tables’ or the ‘database’.The CRA is compiled from Departmental spending data submitted to HM Treasury on services, split by sub-functions. The data provided, uses internationally-agreed definitions called the Classifications of the Functions of Government (UN COFOG). These functions include and separately identify expenditure on various Research and Development activities.

Energy: Debts

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information his Department holds on the average customer debt to suppliers of (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each year since May 2010 up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Amber Rudd: The Department does not hold information on the average amount of customer debt owed to energy supply companies.

Conditions of Employment

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many staff in his Department and its executive agencies and associated bodies were engaged off-payroll in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available.

Amber Rudd: The number of people engaged off payroll by the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and the Non Departmental Public Bodies, for which it is responsible, are published each year in its Annual report and Accounts. These are available on our website and can be found by following the links set out below.2013-14 (Average number of persons employed) (Page 96)https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014 2012-13 (Average number of persons employed) (Page 150)https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2012-13 2011-12 (Table 5 Staff in post) (Page 232)https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2011-to-2012--22010-11 (Average number of persons employed) (Page 96)https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-2010-to-2011 The tables in 2011-12 also includes totals for all previous years since DECC was created in 2008.

Energy: Debts

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information his Department holds on total customer debt to suppliers of (a) gas and (b) electricity in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each year since 2010 up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Amber Rudd: The Department does not hold information on the total amount of customer debt owed to energy supply companies.Although Ofgem closely monitors domestic energy suppliers’ performance and publishes information in relation to debt, they do not publish data showing the total amount of outstanding debt owed by customers.

Cabinet Office

Electronic Commerce

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the value of (a) exports and (b) imports of digitally-traded goods and services was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Import of digital goods
(PDF Document, 132.57 KB)

Conditions of Employment: North West

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West who had jobs which primarily required working (i) during the day and (ii) at night in the last 12 months.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Working Day and Night
(PDF Document, 139.89 KB)

Government Departments: Consultants

Pamela Nash: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2015 to Question 226194, how much the Government has spent on consultants in each of the last five years.

Mr Francis Maude: Before the last General Election, there were no effective cross-Governmental controls over spend on consultancy and temporary labour.Now Ministers, supported by Cabinet Office officials, closely scrutinise what we spend on consultants and temporary labour. Last year, departments saved over £1.4 billion from consultants and temporary labour compared to the spending levels in the final year of the last administration, 2009-10 - a 57% reduction. This helped us save taxpayers £14.3 billion through efficiency and reform in 2013-14 against a 2009-10 baseline. Central Government spending on general consultancy alone was £316 million in 2013-14: around a quarter of the 2009-10 figure of £1,234 million. Such expenditure was £363m in 2010-11, £209m in 2011-12 and £212m in 2012-13.We will spend money on consultants and temporary labour when there is an appropriate business need to do so. Indeed in some cases engaging temporary labour is more flexible and cheaper for the taxpayer than taking on new staff. But we are also ensuring that the Civil Service has the skills needed. Our Capabilities Plan is designed to address long-standing gaps in four particular areas: digital skills, project management skills, commercial skills, and the leadership and management of change.We publish all spend data over £25,000 and central government contracts over £10,000 on Gov.uk and Contracts Finder”.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Mr Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 17 March 2015 to UIN: 226959

Older People: York

Sir Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) couples and (b) single people living alone there were aged over (i) 65 and (ii) 80 in (A) York Central constituency and (B) City of York local authority area at the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Couple and Single people
(PDF Document, 129.01 KB)

Charities

Mr Graham Allen: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the average time from receipt by the Charity Commissioners of an application to become a charity to final approval of that application; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply. 



Charity Commission Letter for Member
(PDF Document, 76.81 KB)

Delegated Legislation

Sir Richard Shepherd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will review the use of subordinate legislation to amend primary legislation; and if he will propose arrangements to restrict such powers to cases of necessity.

Mr Oliver Letwin: There is no plan to review the use of powers that allow subordinate legislation to amend primary legislation. Parliamentary Counsel and Departments work to ensure that new delegated powers are proportionate. Each Government Bill is accompanied by a memorandum explaining the delegated powers included in the Bill and explaining why they are necessary.

Debts

Pamela Nash: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the average ratio of personal debt to equity for each (a) income and (b) age group defined by the Office for National Statistics in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Personal Debt
(PDF Document, 143.75 KB)

Smoking: Lancashire

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people died from smoking-related diseases in each local authority area in Lancashire in 2014.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Death from Smoke Related
(PDF Document, 96.21 KB)

Alcoholic Drinks: Lancashire

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people died from alcohol-related conditions in each local authority area in Lancashire in 2014.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Death from Alcohol Related
(PDF Document, 207.01 KB)

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department responded that they were treated fairly at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Mrs Helen Grant: In the 2014 People Survey, 66% of respondents from the DCMS (including Government Equalities Office) declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work. 80% of DCMS respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work. There is a range of support in place for employees with disabilities. There is information on the Intranet to help support individuals and advice for managers in how they can support individuals with disabilities. This information includes advice on mental wellbeing, links to useful external websites such as Time To Change and Mind, and access to the NHS stress test. The Department's Employer Assistance Programme offers further advice and links to resources that can support managers and employees. There is also an active employee run mental health employee support group. This group is a forum where DCMS staff can discuss their experiences in mental health and offer mutual support in a confidential environment.  The Department recently ran an Inclusion week which included sessions on; support for managers and individuals with disabilities, including mental health issues, and support for carers and sessions to deal with the modern workplace such as improving work life balance and mindfulness.

Broadband: South East

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of fibre-optic broadband to businesses in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey and (c) the South East.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Current superfast broadband coverage is almost 80% of UK premises and the Government remains committed to providing 95% coverage to homes and businesses by 2017.As of June 2014, Surrey had 89% superfast broadband coverage (speeds of 24Mbps+) as stated in the Ofcom Infrastructure Report 2014. By the end of the current Superfast Surrey broadband project at the end of March 2015 there will be over 97% superfast coverage to businesses and homes in Surrey. Superfast broadband roll-out is managed at local authority level rather than regional level.

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Mrs Helen Grant: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 17 March 2015 to UIN 227295.

Museums and Galleries: Medway

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support his Department has provided for museums in Medway.

Mr Edward Vaizey: DCMS directly sponsors 16 museums and galleries in England including the British Library, and supports regional museums through Arts Council England (ACE), the body responsible for museums and galleries in England. DCMS also supports heritage bodies including the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust which is both a heritage site and independent museum. DCMS has provided £245,000 funding to Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust in 2014-15, and will provide £324,000 in 2015-16. Both the Chatham Historic Dockyard and Trust, and the Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive received support from Arts Council England between 2011 and 2015. Chatham Historic Dockyard and Trust received awards of funding of £312,681 in Renaissance transition funding and £9,500 from the ACE Subject Specialist Networks scheme. The Royal Engineers Museum, Library and Archive, which has a Designated collection of national importance, received a single award of £73,035 from the ACE Designation Development Fund. ACE has also provided support to museums in Medway through its Museum Resilience Fund. The Museum resilience fund aims to support a step change for the museums sector by enabling museums to become more sustainable and resilient organisations. The most recent round of awards from the fund was announced in March; the Guildhall Museum was granted £67,100 and Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust £263,000. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust was also awarded £466,542 from the fund in the previous round. DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation jointly fund the DCMS Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, which supports projects in English Museums and galleries that improve the quality of displays, collection interpretation, public spaces, and access and facilities for disabled visitors. In January 2014 two Museums in Medway received grants from the DCMS Wolfson Fund. Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust received an award of £150,000 towards its Building the Future project. The Royal Engineers Museum also received £22,794 towards its Waterloo 200: redisplay of Wellington’s Map project.

Broadband: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of households with access to fibre-optic broadband in (a) Woking constituency and (b) Surrey in each of the last five years.

Mr Edward Vaizey: House of Commons Library analysis (http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06643.pdf) of Ofcom postcode data related to June 2014 suggested the number of premises with superfast (NGA) availability across the Woking constituency was then about 97%. Historical constituency data is not available.The following data taken from Ofcom Infrastructure Reports indicates coverage in Surrey between 2011 and 2014. The Department is not aware of data for 2010. Ofcom calculated 2011-14 coverage figures using different methodologies and in 2014 produced two sets of figures. Further details can be found on the Ofcom website: http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/  CountyProportion of households in postcodes served by NGA networks2011Proportion of households in postcodes served by NGA networks2012Proportion of premises in postcodes served by NGA networks2013Proportion of premises able to receive NGA broadband services2014Availability of superfast broadband (30+Mbit/s)2014Surrey77%80%85%93%89%

Radio: Cannock Chase

Mr Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to expedite the process for the licensing of Cannock Radio radio station in Cannock Chase constituency.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom is responsible for licensing community radio services and has awarded over 300 licences since 2005. Over 220 community stations are broadcasting throughout the UK. Applications for community radio licences are considered by Ofcom in accordance with the requirements of the Community Radio Order 2004. In order to treat all applicants equally, and given the high volume of potential applicants, Ofcom's policy is carry out licensing in rounds, inviting applications from each region of the UK in turn. For similar reasons of fairness, Ofcom does not accept an application from specific groups in a region without also accepting applications from across the whole region. Ofcom invited applicants for the West and East Midlands in the first half 2014, with the closing date for applications on 24 June 2014. Ofcom has not yet confirmed a timetable for further licensing rounds, however Ofcom notes the continuing interest from potential applicant groups, as this will help inform its decisions on future licensing. A total of 9 licences in the Midlands during the current round of licensing - most recently 3 licences were awarded in January 2015 to stations in the Midlands region. More details can be found on the Ofcom website: http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radio-broadcast-licensing/community-radio/current-licensees/awards-round-3/. Full details on applying for community radio licenses can also be found on Ofcom’s website: http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radio-broadcast-licensing/community-radio/apply-for-licence/

Arts: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much arts funding (a) in total and (b) per head of population was allocated in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Pendle constituency in the last 12 months.

Mr Edward Vaizey: In the last 12 months, Arts Council England has invested the following in Lancashire and Pendle: 2014/15 (YTD)Population (mid 2013):1,180,076 90,131   LancashirePendle Total £spend per headTotal £spend per headGrants for the arts£1,238,356£1.05£187,866£2.08Strategic funding£348,866£0.30£0.00£0.00NPO/MPM£2,111,107£1.79£0.00£0.00Music Education Hubs*£1,297,347£1.10£0.00£0.00Total£4,995,677£4.23£187,866£2.08 *Pendle is also covered by Lancashire Music Education Hub and will receive some benefit from this grant, however, there is no way of accurately apportioning a share from the data currently available.  Projects in Pendle that have recently benefited from funding include the 'In-situ' initiative which includes the Recorded Soul project, Young People in Pendle and Momentum.

Broadband

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 16 December 2013, Official Report, column 430W, on broadband, in which enterprise zones superfast broadband is currently (a) available throughout and (b) partially available.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Superfast broadband is available throughout the following Enterprise Zones:Harlow EssexAngliaLancashireHerefordKentDaresburyAlconburySolentMIRA LeicestershireCornwallMersey/Liverpool WatersNorth EastSuperfast broadband is partially available in the following Enterprise Zones:HumberOxfordNottinghamSheffieldNorthamptonTees ValleyIn the following Enterprise Zones, which all have partial coverage of superfast broadband, SMEs on some or all sites are also eligible to apply to the BDUK Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme to improve their broadband connectivity:LondonLeedsManchesterBirmingham Black Country

House of Commons Commission

ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what discussions the Commission has had with (a) Apple and (b) providers of other devices and platforms in advance of the decision to offer iPads free of charge to all hon. Members.

John Thurso: No direct discussions were held with (a) Apple and (b) the providers of other devices and platforms in advance of the decision to offer iPads.An independent assessment of the tablet marketplace was completed by Parliamentary ICT (PICT), including cost, but also technical capabilities, such as the ability to deliver committee papers securely, and the training effort required for both Members and their staff to move to a different device and/or platform.

ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the suitability of the iPad for the open source, open standards and open data approach to digital services promoted by the Government Digital Service.

John Thurso: The suitability of various tablets for open source, open standards and open data was not part of the assessment in the selection of the iPad. The selection of tablet does not have a direct impact on the use of open source, open standards and open data. Parliament is actively using open standards to deliver services that will work across any device through the use of HTML5. In addition new services are being developed that take advantage of Parliament’s open data platform, such as data.parliament.

ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what comparative assessment the Commission has made of the costs of offering iPads and equivalent Android devices free of charge to all hon. Members.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission made of the functionality and price of other devices and platforms before deciding to offer free iPads to all hon. Members.

John Thurso: In 2013 the House of Commons Commission agreed to a recommendation in the Administration Committee’s report, First weeks at Westminster: induction arrangements for new MPs in 2015, that:“…a tablet and a laptop should be the first pieces of equipment offered to all Members after the 2015 election. The tablet should be in addition to the current allowance and should come with a SIM card. This provision of a tablet would replace any tablets available as part of the current select committee pilot. The laptop would come from the IT equipment allowance for Members provided by PICT.”The gross cost was estimated to be around £200,000 per annum (including the cost of SIM cards) averaged over the life of the parliament but is linked to a programme to reduce hard copy printing in favour of online publication that is already delivering savings in excess of £3 million per year. These savings are expected to grow further in the new parliament.An independent assessment was completed by Parliamentary ICT (PICT) in January 2015, covering comparative tablet costs, the costs associated with the re-working of existing services and infrastructure (where required), and any costs for training Members, Members’ staff and ICT support teams.Having been in use across Parliament since 2012, iPads are integrated with current business processes (eg committee paper circulation) and infrastructure (eg mobile device management). A move away from the Apple operating system (iOS) at this time would incur costs to change these processes.Given the established nature of iOS in the Houses’ IT service offering, access to parliamentary digital services on iPads is mature, offering greater access than on other mobile devices. Members are able to access the intranet and intranet hosted services via their iPads, they are able to access and annotate committee papers and can download a number of Office apps to access any content held within Office 365. In addition, PICT are able to remotely manage their security in the case of loss. While all of these services could be provided on other devices and operating systems, currently this would incur further costs in order to deliver them.There would be a significant change to move existing Members to a different tablet operating system. There are at present 209 iPads supplied centrally to Members; PICT are experienced at supporting these. Any departure from iOS would require re-training for the current Members using iOS and new training to be developed for the remaining 441 Members and all relevant PICT support staff.The assessment of the current marketplace revealed a wide range of prices, from entry level tablets starting at under £100, through to high-end tablets at approximately £600. Across this range, specifications and capabilities vary a great deal. Our requirements are for a secure, SIM-enabled tablet with a good life expectancy and capable of supporting future upgrades. The Apple iPad Air 2 meets these requirements and is competitively priced when compared with similar models.

Department of Health

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average time was for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to allocate an assessor to a health case in (a) February 2015, (b) August 2014, (c) February 2014 and (d) 2010.

George Freeman: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is independent of Government, accountable directly to Parliament. The Department does not, therefore, hold this information. However, we understand that the Ombudsman will be writing directly to the hon. Member with further detail on the question raised.

Electronic Cigarettes

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of research on the efficacy and safety of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.

Jane Ellison: According to the ASH Smokefree GB survey, around two million adults in Great Britain currently use e-cigarettes. A third are ex-smokers who have given up completely, and a further third are using them as part of a quit attempt.   While e-cigarettes are not completely without risk, they carry a far lower risk to health than smoking tobacco. A recent Cochrane Review found that e-cigarettes can help smokers to quit or reduce their smoking and the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) advice to local stop smoking services is that they should be open to helping smokers who want to quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes, especially in those that have tried, but not succeeded, in stopping smoking with the use of licenced stop smoking medicines.   Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for reviewing the evidence on e-cigarettes and providing evidence-based recommendations to inform the Government’s future thinking. In May 2014 PHE published an expert report from Professor John Britton, one of the UK’s leading respiratory physicians and tobacco researchers (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/311887/Ecigarettes_report.pdf).

Electronic Cigarettes

Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the positive and negative effects of e-cigarettes on people with asthma.

Jane Ellison: No such assessment has been made.

Care Homes

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many care homes with (a) a dementia service band and (b) an older people service band there were in (i) England, (ii) the North West and (iii) Lancashire in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission (CQC), as the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England, registers and regulates all providers. We are informed by CQC that, as at 1 March 2015, the information requested was as follows:   AreaNumbers of care homes registered in service bandsDementiaOlder peopleEngland7,04311,056North West8841,535Lancashire County232434Source: CQC database as at 1 March 2015 Notes:1. Service bands are not mutually exclusive. The number of care homes caring for older people may be higher than the number registered under the “Older people” service band. Care homes may be registered under a service band such as "Dementia" and not under "Older people", even though it is highly likely that they will care for people aged over 65.2. Data for the North West comprises the counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire.3. Data for Lancashire County comprises: - Lancashire (which includes districts of West Lancashire, Chorley, South Ribble, Fylde, Preston, Wyre, Lancaster, Ribble Valley, Pendle, Burnley, Rossendale, Hyndburn)- Blackburn with Darwen (unitary authority)- Blackpool (unitary authority)

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will trial the HPV vaccination programme for men who have sex with men in selected sexual health clinics to assess likely take up and budgetary implications.

Jane Ellison: The Government is advised on all immunisation matters by the independent expert body, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). At its February 2015 meeting, the JCVI endorsed the view of its human papilloma virus (HPV) Sub-committee. This was that, in response to the results of the stakeholder consultation it conducted on its provisional advice on HPV vaccination for men who have sex with men (MSM), and before giving its final advice, it should wait for Public Health England’s (PHE) modelling team to incorporate all the necessary changes and sensitivity analyses agreed following the consultation and the peer review.   PHE estimates that this additional work would take several months, meaning the JCVI may not be in a position to re-consider its position until its meeting in October 2015. A final statement will be issued by the JCVI following the completion of these additional analyses and the development of a final position by the Committee.   There are two north London genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics that have trialled offering HPV vaccination for MSM (initially those under 28 years old) since November 2012, and which now offer vaccination as an ongoing service. This work has measured the uptake and acceptability of HPV vaccination and observed the effect on other sexual health outcomes in this population. Findings to date have demonstrated high uptake rates for the vaccine and will be considered by the JCVI.   We are doing preliminary work with stakeholders to assess likely uptake and budgetary implications in anticipation of JCVI’s final advice.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in his Department reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Dr Daniel Poulter: In the 2014 People Survey, 12% of the Department’s respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.   5% of the Department’s respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability reported that they had personally experienced bullying or harassment at work in the past 12 months.

Complementary Medicine

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating health problems caused by alternative medicine.

Jane Ellison: No such estimate has been made

Advertising

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) national newspaper advertisements, (d) local newspaper advertisements, (e) social media advertising and (f) other types of advertising in each year since 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Detailed information for spend on advertising by each individual categories specified is not available within the Department’s Business Management System centrally and to provide an answer by categories specified would require a review of each individual contract and invoice payment, and would result in disproportionate cost.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the progress made by the Cancer Drugs Fund Short Life Working Group to date.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that the Cancer Drugs Fund Working Party has been discussing potential ways for reforming and strengthening the way cancer drugs are evaluated and commissioned in the future. Proposals are very much in their early stages of development.

Hepatitis: Drugs

Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England will conclude its preparations for making new hepatitis C drugs available for treating people with cirrhosis of the liver.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that it is considering extending the current interim commissioning policy for Sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir (Harvoni) and another direct acting antiviral combination therapy for selected patients with cirrhosis associated with Hepatitis C.   NHS England has completed the evidence review and finalised its draft proposals. In doing so, it has engaged with clinical and patient stakeholders from the national lead Clinical Reference Group. NHS England has advised that the aim is that interim commissioning policies will be in place by the first half of 2015.

Organs: Donors

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of people in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) East Lancashire and (c) the North West were registered as organ donors in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is in the following table.  Pendle ConstituencyEast Lancashire2North West (formerly NW Strategic Health Authority) 3Population estimates189,613530,6057,084,337As at 31 March 2013   Number on the Organ Donor Register (ODR)19,505121,3931,838,938% of population on the ODR21.8%22.9%26.0%As at 31 March 2014   Number on the ODR20,538128,0421,944,244% of population on the ODR22.9%24.1%27.4%As at 12 March 2015   Number on the ODR22,600141,9022,148,575% of population on the ODR25.2%26.7%30.3% Source: NHS Blood and Transplant   Notes: 1 Source: Office for National Statistics mid-2012 population estimates   2 East Lancashire comprising the districts of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale   3 Former NW Strategic Health Authority 9areas now grouped by Clinical Commissioning Groups on a regional basis) comprises:   Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool Bolton Bury Central and Eastern Cheshire Central Lancashire Cumbria East Lancashire Halton and St Helens Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Knowsley Liverpool Manchester North Lancashire Oldham Salford Sefton Stockport Tameside and Glossop Trafford Warrington Western Cheshire Wirral

Diabetes

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps NHS England is taking to ensure all clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) provide annual checks needed by patients with diabetes to help prevent against diabetes complications; and what action he is taking against CCGs which do not comply.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to address local variations in the quality of care for diabetes patients.

Jane Ellison: Over recent years, the quality of NHS services for people with or at risk of diabetes has improved and, as a result, so have health and care outcomes. The latest data on diabetes care shows a 60% completion rate of all the eight measurable National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended care processes for diabetes. Whilst the Quality and Outcomes Framework incentivises general practitioners to deliver these processes for everyone over 17 with diabetes, they are not mandatory as there may be good clinical reasons for not conducting them on every patient.   The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) outcomes indicator set provides clear, comparative information for CCGs, health and wellbeing boards, local authorities, patients and the public about the quality of health services commissioned by CCGs and the associated health outcomes. The indicators are useful for CCGs and health and wellbeing boards in identifying local priorities for quality improvement and to demonstrate progress that local health systems are making on outcomes. Reviewing progress against these indicators, which include the number of people with diabetes who have received the nine care processes annually, forms part of NHS England's on-going assurance of CCGs. Performance against the outcomes indicator set can also be used as part of CCGs local accountability to their boards and to health and wellbeing boards.   In addition, in October 2014, Public Health England published Healthier Lives: Diabetes, a tool which provides information on the variation in the treatment of diabetes at a local level. Through sector led improvement, the tool aims to drive improvements in diabetes care and iron out variation.   We recognise that there is still more to do and so improving the delivery of the diabetes care processes and achievement of recommended diabetes treatment targets continues to be important in ensuring that people with diabetes receive the best possible care.

Cancer: Drugs

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what timescales his Department has set for making decisions on appeals on the delisting of treatments from the Cancer Drugs Fund.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that decisions on appeals against the removal of drugs from the national Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) list have now been made and the individual companies concerned have been informed of the outcomes.   A revised national CDF list was published on 12 March 2015 and is available at:   www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ncdf-list-mar-15.pdf

Macquarie Bank

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings his Department has had with Macquarie Bank since May 2010; and who was present at such meetings.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which of his Department's projects Macquarie Bank has invested in since May 2010; and how much it has invested in each such project.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Macquarie Bank has not invested in any of the Department’s capital investment projects since May 2010.   Departmental officials have only attended one meeting with Macquarie Bank since May 2010. The meeting was with Dalmore Capital where Alex Korman, a Vice President of Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited (part of the Macquarie Group) was present; it took place on 10 December 2014.

Multiple Births

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 217335, what the causes of these incidents were; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 217335, how many patient safety incidents involving multiple pregnancies there were in each (a) hospital trust and (b) region in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Table 1 and Table 2 illustrate the number of incidents reported to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) where the incident report contained keywords indicating multiple pregnancies. It is important to note that the inclusion of these keywords may not always indicate the incident directly affected a multiple pregnancy; for example, reference in the incident report may be made to previous pregnancies. The harm reported may relate to the mother or to one or more foetuses/infants. The table is attached.   Information on the specific causes for the maternity incidents outlined in Question 217335 is not held centrally as these are only available after local investigation. The NRLS collects incident reports from maternity services through upload from local reporting systems. The majority of learning and action on the causes of patient safety incidents is undertaken within trusts. NHS England reviews all reports of death and severe harm made to the NRLS and where specific remediable causes are identified NHS England issues advice through the National Patient Safety Alerting System.   Increasing numbers of reported patient safety incidents are considered to be a sign of an improving patient safety culture and increases in the number of incident reports should not be interpreted as deterioration in the safety of patients.   As organisations change considerably across time this data reflects NHS organisational structures as of 31 December 2014. This means that incidents reported before that date may have taken place in a site that was not associated with a given trust at that time.   NHS England has a wide programme of work in partnership with other organisations seeking to improve outcomes for mothers and babies, including reducing stillbirth and neonatal death and avoidable admissions to neonatal care.   



No. of incidences to NRLS - multiple pregnancies
(Excel SpreadSheet, 32.61 KB)

Multiple Births

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 217336, what the causes of these damages were; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 217336, what (a) damages, (b) defence costs, (c) claimant costs and (d) periodic payment orders were paid in each (i) hospital trust and (ii) region in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: This information is attached. 



Cause, trust and region of claims costs
(Excel SpreadSheet, 35.89 KB)

Multiple Births

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 217334, how many multiple pregnancies received (a) the higher tariff for the antenatal phase, (b) the delivery phase tariff with complications and co-morbidities and (c) the delivery phase tariff without complications and co-morbidities in each year since 2004.

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 217334, what plans his Department has to review the costs of delivering care in multiple pregnancies antenatally, in delivery and postnatally; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Information on the tariff each individual multiple pregnancy attracts is not collected centrally.   NHS England is undertaking a major review of the commissioning of NHS maternity services, in line with commitments made in the NHS Five Year Forward View. The review will assess current maternity care provision and consider how services should be developed to meet the changing needs of women and babies.   The maternity pathway payment system was first mandated for use in 2013-14, from 2014-15, national tariffs will be set by Monitor. Monitor and NHS England have jointly established a review process and will monitor how the new system is working.

Vaccination

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many local winter pressure resilience plans developed for the 2014-15 winter period include reference to vaccinations.

Jane Ellison: Operational Resilience and Capacity Planning 2014/15 published in June 2014 required System Resilience Groups (SRGs) to produce plans which demonstrated comprehensive flu planning in line with guidance published by Public Health England in 2014. SRGs needed to demonstrate flexible preparations for the unpredictability of flu, how vaccination requirements would be met, extending to voluntary and independent sector organisations where appropriate.   The plan assurance process showed all systems had addressed flu planning requirements as part of their resilience and capacity plans.

Vaccination

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding he has allocated to improving vaccination coverage as part of local winter pressure resilience plans developed for the 2014-15 winter period.

Jane Ellison: A total of £700 million of operational resilience funding was made available in 2014/15 to support cross-system resilience, with £640 million made directly available to System Resilience Groups (SRGs) through clinical commissioning groups. SRGs agreed locally how this money was to be spent.

Vaccination

Sir Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues to hospitals on the role of improved vaccination in reducing seasonal pressures.

Jane Ellison: The Annual Flu Plan and Annual Flu letter provide guidance on the seasonal flu vaccination programme, and is sent to a range of healthcare professionals. This provides the necessary information to help local areas prepare for vaccinating eligible groups with the seasonal flu vaccine, and highlights the importance of the programme in helping to reduce pressure on the National Health Service.   When appropriate a letter from the Chief Medical Officer is sent to the NHS recommending the use of anti-viral medicines for appropriate groups.

Health Services: Surrey

Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what NHS spending per head of the population in Surrey was in each of the last two years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information is shown in the following table:   Spending per capita (£) Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)2013-142014-152015-16NHS East Surrey CCG1,0201,0331,074NHS Guildford and Waverley CCG 1,020 1,028 1,033NHS North West Surrey CCG1,0741,0851,090NHS Surrey Heath CCG1,1421,1591,168NHS Surrey Downs CCG1,0771,0891,098NHS England Surrey and Sussex Area Team1,1181,1341,157  Source: NHS England

Epilepsy

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to reduce waiting times for urgent referrals of epilepsy patients.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance The diagnosis and management of the epilepsies in adults and children in primary and secondary care published in January 2012 sets out best practice for clinicians on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with epilepsy. The NICE guidance recommends that people having a first seizure should be seen as soon as possible by a specialist, with patients being seen within two weeks if possible.   Local organisations should consider NICE guidance when planning services for resident populations. We expect patients to receive the most clinically appropriate care at the right time in the most appropriate setting. Clinical priority is, and remains, the main determinant of when patients should be seen or treated as appropriate.

Women and Equalities

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in the Government Equalities Office responded that they were treated fairly at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Jo Swinson: In the 2014 People Survey, 66% of Department for Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS – which includes the Government Equalities Office) respondents declaring a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work. 80% of DCMS respondents declaring that they did not have a long-standing physical or mental health condition, illness, impairment or disability responded that they were treated fairly at work. There is a range of support in place for employees with disabilities. There is information on the Intranet to help support individuals and advice for managers in how they can support individuals with disabilities. This information includes advice on mental wellbeing, links to useful external websites such as Time To Change and Mind, and access to the NHS stress test. The Department's Employer Assistance Programme offers further advice and links to resources that can support managers and employees. There is also an active employee-run mental health employee support group. This group is a forum where DCMS and GEO staff can discuss their experiences in mental health and offer mutual support in a confidential environment. The Department recently ran an Inclusion week which included sessions on; support for managers and individuals with disabilities, including mental health issues, and support for carers and sessions to deal with the modern workplace such as improving work life balance and mindfulness.

Policy

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, which policies contained in the 2010 Coalition Agreement and falling under the Government Equalities Office's responsibilities have not yet been implemented; and what the reasons are for each such policy's non-implementation.

Jo Swinson: The Government Equalities Office has implemented all of the commitments in the Coalition’s Programme for Government that fall either wholly or in part to us. These were as follows: We will promote equal pay and take a range of measures to end discrimination in the workplace.We will look to promote gender equality on the boards of listed companiesWe will use our relationships with other countries to push for unequivocal support for gay rights and for UK civil partnerships to be recognised internationally.We will introduce extra support for people with disabilities who want to become MPs, councillors or other elected officials.We will help schools tackle bullying in schools, especially homophobic bullying.

Surveys

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff in the Government Equalities Office reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work in the most recent Civil Service People Survey.

Jo Swinson: According to the 2014 staff survey, 9% of staff in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (which includes the Government Equalities Office) reported experiencing bullying or harassment at work. Due to the small numbers of staff involved, the data is not split between disabled or non-disabled staff for data protection purposes.